If a young cat has appeared in your home, then today you need to think about how you plan to protect her from unwanted pregnancies. Many people think it’s too early to think about this, because in front of you is a playful kitten. In fact, time flies very quickly. Every owner should know at what age a cat can become pregnant, because forewarned is forearmed.
First things first
Of course, the numbers will be averaged, because each animal develops differently. The cat family is distinguished by its fertility and early maturity. The age at which a cat can become pregnant for the first time will be influenced by several factors:
- Breed.
- Genotype.
- Other features.
On average, a cat's first heat occurs at 6–8 months. It also marks the possibility of getting pregnant. Usually a young female is in no hurry to set off on an adventure. But the likelihood of having offspring will be higher if you also have a cat.
Breed Features
The larger the pet, the longer it takes to develop. Therefore, Maine Coons and similar animals most often become sexually mature a little later. The first heat, and with it the opportunity to become a mother, usually occurs at 12–14 months. This also includes those with long coats. These are bobtails, Siberian and Norwegian cats. Shorthairs can mature before 6 months; in some, the first heat occurs at 4–5 months. This must be taken into account if you take home a young female. After all, without knowing at what age a cat can become pregnant, you can allow the birth of unwanted offspring.
Everyone's responsibility
At first glance, reproduction is a natural phenomenon. Moreover, many believe that childbirth is necessary and important for the health of the animal. But look around. Today there are so many abandoned, unhappy kittens, cats and female cats who need a family that allowing new ones to be born is simply a crime.
Everyone hopes that good hands will be found for every kitten that their pet has. And usually they are found, especially if the litter is spring. Children are taken to the dacha during the summer holidays for children. What happens in the fall? They are abandoned in summer cottages, left at bus stops, or simply thrown into the yard.
Therefore, think very carefully before allowing your pet near the cat. If she is not purebred, then it is best to sterilize her. Some owners, in the old fashioned way, drown newborns and bury them in the garden. Despite the apparent inhumanity, this is better than starvation and painful death.
Features of physiology
Every owner should understand at least a little about these issues. Where his experience and knowledge are lacking, a veterinarian is needed. Today we’ll talk about the age at which a cat can become pregnant. From the moment of her first heat, she is physiologically ready to become a mother. This ability is sometimes retained until old age. There is no such thing as menopause in cats. That is, the reproductive age lasts from the first estrus until death. This must be communicated to the owners even before the furry beauty crosses the threshold of their home.
Timing and stages of pregnancy
Gestation of kittens lasts from 58 to 78 days. It depends on the size of the animal and the breed. For example, Siamese cats bear offspring faster. After about three weeks, the nipples become enlarged, and it becomes possible to feel the babies in the tummy. At this time, the cat must be provided with adequate nutrition. It is best if it is special food for pregnant and lactating women.
When there are 1-2 days left before giving birth, the expectant mother becomes restless. She clings to her owner, looks for a secluded corner, meows. Now it’s best to equip her with a nest. A cat attached to its owner will want to give birth in his bed, and a very independent lady will try to leave the house for this. A cozy nest will help you avoid these extremes.
Caring for an animal in position
Pregnant pets require increased attention at all stages of their existence. They are kept away from danger, fed properly, their coat taken care of, and comfortable living conditions are created.
Animals in position are fed nourishingly and unobtrusively, with food balanced in terms of vitamin and mineral balance. You should not radically change your usual feeding routine - this can cause allergies and rejection in your pet. It is considered sufficient to add the necessary components, checking a professionally prepared diet. You can purchase specialized food for pregnant cats, but your pet should be switched to it gradually and carefully.
The animals are combed out carefully, with gentle, stroking movements. In the later stages, it is better to abandon this procedure altogether.
Bathing pregnant animals is allowed only in the early stages, up to 20-25 days of pregnancy. After crossing this line, they refuse to swim so that the stressful situation does not provoke a miscarriage and premature birth.
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In the later stages, 1-2 weeks before birth, it is recommended to limit the animal’s traumatic mobility, do not allow it to jump onto high window sills and shelves, or jump down from them.
When can you date a cat?
If you have firmly decided to have offspring and know well how you will look for a new home for your babies, then you need to first of all make sure that the expectant mother’s body is fully prepared for such stress. Knowing at what age a cat can become pregnant for the first time, you need to carefully protect her from accidental mating. After all, this is similar to how an 11-year-old girl who got her period for the first time would become pregnant and give birth to a child.
The owner's task is to maintain the health of the pet. This is what should be the priority. The onset of the first estrus only indicates physiological readiness to reproduce. But the owner must think about the other side of the issue. Both male and female cats should be examined by a veterinarian before mating. They are prescribed an examination for hidden infections, treatment for worms and other parasites, as well as vaccination.
Both breeders and veterinarians agree on the age at which a cat can become pregnant for the first time. To ensure that bearing offspring does not have a negative impact on the expectant mother, it is necessary to skip 2 or 3 heats, starting with the first. Pregnancy is a very energy-intensive event. Therefore, before the first conception, the female must be absolutely healthy and in excellent physical shape.
Here it is necessary to say once again that a caring owner should first of all think about the health of his pet. The myths that a cat needs to give birth constantly are unfounded. If your beauty is not the best representative of the breed, a winner of numerous exhibitions and a valuable carrier of the gene pool, then it is best to sterilize her upon reaching puberty.
Cat and female cat meeting for mating
The optimal time for mating cats is considered to be 2-3 days after estrus. The fact is that even with successful mating, ovulation and conception of kittens does not occur immediately, but usually after a few days. That is why, if a cat had relationships with several cats during this period, any of the males can become the father of kittens.
Usually, during mating, food is of little interest to cats, but pets must have access to clean water, as well as a litter box.
If everything went well and conception occurred, the female calms down the next day and behaves quite peacefully. This is very noticeable in contrast to behavior during estrus. If fertilization does not occur, then estrus may continue for some time.
If the cat is not sterilized and does not have contact with the cat, then the echoes of estrus can be quite long. The calling cries of the animal will be heard in your house for a long time, until the next heat. That is why cats that are prone to “nymphomania” are best sterilized in a timely manner.
Read about how to care for a pregnant cat, how to deliver a pet and organize the necessary care for kittens in our next article.
How long after it can be repeated
By about one and a half months, kittens become completely independent and are ready to move to a new home. It's time for owners to think about when a cat can get pregnant again. Usually just when she starts her next heat. But this does not mean that her body is ready for such a turn.
You can plan a pregnancy no earlier than in 5–6 months. And even if the previous lambing passed without complications, the animal must regain its strength. Bearing kittens, giving birth, feeding - all this is associated with a huge loss of nutrients and minerals. Mommy spends a lot of calcium, phosphorus and vitamins. All these substances go towards the development of fruits. Therefore, it is necessary to give her the opportunity to regain weight and normalize hormonal levels. This will take at least 3–4 months. It is believed that a cat should not have more than two litters per year. Otherwise, it wears out the mother’s body.
How often can a cat give birth?
This is another important question that veterinarians are also often asked. Now we know what time a cat can become pregnant, but we still need to understand how to be careful during the year. If her living conditions are good and her nutrition is adequate, estrus will occur with enviable regularity, and you will be faced with the problem of placing the offspring in good hands.
Of course, this frequency is typical for animals that have free access to the street. If there are cats living next door, then surprises cannot be avoided. In this case, it is extremely important to consider how many months a cat can become pregnant. After all, the offspring of a young female will most likely not be viable.
Even if your beauty is still nursing her babies, she may go into heat, and if there is a male nearby, she may become pregnant. This leads to exhaustion, weight loss, inflammatory diseases and other problems. As we said above, if the owner approaches breeding responsibly, then he must exclude such a possibility.
Childbirth in cats
A week before the birth of the offspring, the mammary glands swell and light discharge appears from the vulva. Childbirth begins. At this time, the cat makes a nest. There is a discharge coming from her nipples. This stage lasts up to 24 hours.
In order for kittens to appear, the cat assumes a position lying on its stomach, amniotic fluid is released, and the kitten emerges within 15 minutes. If the head does not appear, the owner should engage in obstetric care.
After the kitten is born, the mother chews the amniotic sac if it has not ruptured. If the cat does not do this, the owner should help, because otherwise the kitten will suffocate.
The cat chews the umbilical cord after licking the kitten. If she does not do this, she is cut at a distance of 2-4 cm from the belly.
The placenta comes out after each kitten, the female eats the placenta. However, she should not be allowed to eat more than two, otherwise vomiting and diarrhea may occur.
Childbirth usually lasts from 2 to 6 hours, sometimes it can last up to 1-1.5 days.
The onset of old age
First heat is the age at which a cat can become pregnant for the first time. After this, throughout adult life, the owner needs to ensure that mating occurs no more than twice a year. If pregnancy is, in principle, not desirable, then it is best to coordinate the sterilization procedure with your veterinarian. They do it throughout their lives. True, there are also contraindications for health reasons.
In this regard, many are interested in when does a pet stop giving birth to kittens? Features of sexual behavior allow them to continue their race until old age. Therefore, you should not hope that after a certain number of years it will be possible to loosen control over the animal. In old age, they give birth to fewer kittens, but this does not fundamentally solve the problem.
The owner must approach this issue responsibly and not allow animals older than 7 years to be bred. When a cat reaches this age, it is easier to sterilize her so as not to create problems for herself and her. None of the professional nurseries will receive offspring from an animal that is 6–7 years old. Late childbirth will not add health to an elderly female, but her life is a fundamental value.
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So, we have already found out how long cats bear their offspring. But until what age do these animals retain their reproductive function? There is no definite answer to this question, but some scientists and biologists believe that some pets can delight their owners with the appearance of offspring for up to 20 years! These cases, of course, are incredibly rare, but they still happen. Of course, the older the “young mother” is, the more problems there may be.
The birth itself in such cats occurs without complications, but the “quality” of the resulting kittens is often in question. Age, you know... In general, even if your pet continues to feel young and full of strength even at such an advanced age, you should not arrange mating. Firstly, you will definitely not get normal kittens.
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Feminologists believe that you can give birth at the age of 1 year, when the cat’s body is fully formed and ready for reproduction. Experienced cat breeders advise skipping the first heat and bringing animals for mating only after the second. A cat can give birth for the first time at 1–1.5 years. This is the optimal age for your first pregnancy.
Cat owners should remember that menopause does not exist in animals. Therefore, cats are able to become pregnant and give birth throughout their lives. Cases have been recorded of kittens being born to 5-month-old female cats. As a rule, they were not viable, since the mother herself did not yet have enough strength to bear offspring.
A cat can become a mother from the moment she goes into heat. In different individuals and breeds, this physiological process occurs at different times and depends on the individual development of the body, conditions of keeping and feeding, the presence of other animals of the same species in the apartment, and the length of daylight hours.
On average, estrus occurs at the age of 7-10 months.
The reproductive age of cats begins in the same period. At what age do cats get pregnant and can they give birth?
The recommended reproductive age for feline pets is 1-1.5 years. The reproductive age of cats begins with the first heat, at which time the animal enters physiological puberty.
At physiological maturity, the pet is ready to become pregnant, but is often unable to bear, give birth, or raise healthy offspring.
With the onset of actual maturity, the body finally develops, and the reproductive functions operate fully. It occurs at the age of 1-1.2 years and lasts until 8-9 years. After this, even if the heat continues, the practically old pet is not able to bear and reproduce healthy offspring.
What drugs can be used
Above we have already touched upon the issue of contraception. Since birth control is necessary, it means that special medications are needed that can prevent mating. Moreover, given the age at which a cat can become pregnant, they should be used from a very young age. This issue is acute for owners of purebred animals during the rehabilitation period. Today there is a large selection of contraceptives for pets on the market. The following are especially popular: “Sex barrier”, “Stop-intim”, “Counter-sex”, “Gestrenol”, “Libidomin”.
Pregnancy drugs
The use of special medications will help prevent unwanted pregnancy. Owners of purebred animals especially think about this during the rehabilitation period. Known oral contraceptives for domestic cats:
All of them can be produced in the form of drops, tablets or suspensions. The drugs suppress libido and prevent ovulation. It is not recommended to abuse them, otherwise the female will get a dangerous disease.
Knowing what age cats give birth will help the owner monitor the behavior of their pet and be on guard. At this crucial moment, the animal may need help that only the owner can provide.
When a fluffy, uncastrated young beauty lives in the house, sooner or later the owner is puzzled by the question of what time the cat can become pregnant. Knowledge in the field of physiology, understanding of the characteristics of sexual behavior, and the nuances of reproduction will help you competently approach the problem of keeping and breeding a pet.
