What Symptoms Do Cats Have When They Are Around a Week Pregnant?

Heat cycles in female cats can begin when they are only four or five months of age. If your female cat comes into contact with a tomcat while she is in heat, it is very probable that she will become pregnant. In cats, gestation lasts approximately nine weeks. However, the outward signs of pregnancy are usually not detectable until the third week.

  1. Cessation of Heat Cycles

    • The first sign of a feline pregnancy is likely to be the cessation of heat cycles. In the second week of pregnancy, a veterinarian can conduct an ultrasound to confirm this. Unlike in humans, it is impossible to determine whether or not a cat is pregnant via blood or urine tests. If a cat is pregnant, she will henceforth be referred to as a "queen."

    Pinking Up

    • The first visible signs of feline pregnancy are present in the third week of gestation. At this point, the queen's nipples swell slightly and turn pink. Breeders refer to this change as pinking up. A veterinarian may also be able to confirm pregnancy at this time by palpating the abdomen to locate the golf ball sized fetuses. Do not attempt to palpate the abdomen yourself as there is a risk of causing miscarriage.

    Vomiting

    • The queen may experience several episodes of vomiting early in her pregnancy. This is comparable to morning sickness in humans.

    Weight Gain

    • Around the fifth week of pregnancy, abdominal distension and weight gain will be visible in the queen. You will also notice that the queen is eating more to feed herself and her growing kittens.

    Disposition Change

    • As the pregnancy progresses, you will notice a change in the queen's disposition. She will become much more serene and affectionate. If she was an outdoor cat before becoming pregnant, she will want to stay indoors more often now.

    Further Nipple Changes

    • By the sixth week of pregnancy, the queen's nipples will have darkened and grown considerably. From this point on, the nipples are filled with milk to nourish her kittens when they arrive.

    Nesting

    • Shortly before giving birth, the queen will seek out quiet spots to give birth. She may mark these areas with her scent by spraying urine. It is natural for the queen to want to be alone and this should not be prevented.