Cat Pregnancy Due Date Calculator

When Can a Cat Get Pregnant?

Female cats can get pregnant when they reach puberty, at which time their reproductive cycles, called estrous cycles, begin. This can be anywhere from about 6 months up to 2 years; It varies per cat, even within a given breed.

What is a Cat's Estrous Cycle?

Female cats have estrous cycles, which are comprised of multiple phases: Proestrus, Estrus, Diestrus, and Anestrus.

It is during the estrus phase, which is also known as being in heat, that the female cat is receptive to mating and, if opportunity comes her way, will accept one or more males multiple times within a few day period. This is essential in order for her to ovulate and get pregnant.

Cats are polyestrous which means that during the mating season, they usually will go into heat multiple times. A cat's mating season is largely controlled by environmental factors, in particular its exposure to sunlight or, in the case of an indoor cat, artificial light.

The length of a cat's Proestrus phase varies: a few days if the cat ovulates, or up to 10 days if ovulation does not occur. During Proestrus, a female cat typically rubs her head on objects, postures, and may be vocal. During Estrus, she is receptive to mating and, if opportunity comes her way, will accept one or more males several times over about a one day time period.

What are Non-Neutered and Intact Cats Called?

A female cat which is intact is called a Queen once she reaches puberty; If a female cat is neutered, she is called a molly.

A male intact cat is called a tomcat; If neutered, the male cat is known as a gib.

When a female cat has a litter, she is called a Dam. When a male cat becomes a father, he is called a Sire. These are the same titles used for canine parents.

What Is Induced Ovulation In Cats?

Cats do not spontaneously ovulate during their estrous cycle; Instead, when in heat, ovulation is induced by mating, which often needs to several times within a few days. Ovulation in rabbits is also induced, but usually occurs after just one mating.

Cats ovulate multiple eggs; each egg which is fertilzed and then implants in the uterine wall will become a kitten in the litter. While a cat's eggs survive for about a day, sperm live for several days. So the fact that mating induces ovulation in the Queen, while simultaneously depositing sperm, creating an ideal environment for fertilization.

Is My Cat Pregnant?

Physical signs that can indicate your cat is pregnant include: an enlarged stomach due to weight gain, a change in appetite (eating more or less), pink and swollen nipples at about 2 to 3 weeks gestation, and behavioral changes such as being more affectionate or more irritable than usual.

If you think your cat is pregnant, your veterinarian has a variety of ways to confirm feline pregnancy: palpation, a pregnancy test which detects the hormone relaxin which is present in pregnant cats, and ultrasound; An x-ray, later in pregnancy, can show the size of her litter.

Can My Cat Be Pregnant By Multiple Sires?

Yes! Within a single heat cycle, a cat can get pregnant by multiple males; It's called superfecundation.

Since female cats produce multiple eggs during her heat cycle, some of those eggs can be fertilized by one sire, and others by one or more other sires. If this happens, the kittens sired by one male are half siblings to the kittens sired by another.

Do Female Cats Have The Equivalent of Menopause?

A woman is born with all the eggs she will ever have, which ultimately are depleted. On average, menopause occurs at about age 50, and is defined as one year without a period. Once in menopause, ovulation, part of the cycle, likewise stops.

A female cat does not experience menopause: after her estrous cycle begins at puberty, unless spayed, she is fertile for the rest of her life. However, as with aging females (prior to menopause), the quality of a cat's eggs decrease with age. In addition, a cat's litter size decreases as she ages, and pregnancy at an older age may be harmful to the cat's health.