Has your female cat been pacing the house and crying? Did she manage to escape for the night - or even longer? It’s possible she could have been in heat (estrous), which means that she might have come home with buns in the oven! While there isn’t a feline home pregnancy test yet available, there are still a few ways to figure out whether or not she is pregnant. Read on to learn some symptoms of pregnancy in cats.

Pregnancy symptoms you may notice at home:

• Estrus (Heat) Cycles Cease. A feline estrous cycle (heat cycle, or “season”) lasts about 18 to 24 days. Cats usually go into heat between Spring and Autumn, but some may continue all winter. Estrus is the phase where your cat cries and paces because her body is ready to present herself for mating. Sometimes she will lie on the ground with her behind up in the air, ready to invite a male cat to do his part. If a cat does not become pregnant during the cycle, then Estrus will repeat again in about 1-2 weeks. Unlike dogs, who go into season twice a year, cats can be in heat almost all year long. If the cat’s cycle ends and does not begin again, then she might be pregnant.
• Nipples Swell and Become Pink/Red in Color during pregnancy. If your are noticing a change in these features on your cat, then she may be pregnant.
• Increased Appetite is another indicator of pregnancy. A litter can consist of anywhere from one to 6 or more kittens, so your cat may need a lot of extra nutrition to care for herself and her growing kittens. This is especially important for your cat’s health as well.
• Possible Vomiting. Just as with humans, cats can become nauseous and have “morning sickness” during pregnancy. This can occur at any time of day and it is usually due to the changes in your cat’s body. If it is happening more than once or twice a day you should call your veterinarian to check on her health since frequent vomiting can also be a symptom of illness.
• Noticeable Abdominal Enlargement usually occurs around 4-5 weeks of gestation. Your cat will seem to have a thicker middle before then if she is carrying many kittens, but some cats do not begin to “show” until much later.
• Increased Affection The motherly love will kick in and you may find that your cat wants to give you or your other cats a lot of extra attention. Enjoy this time with your cat and give her all the love you can, to reassure her that she is still your “baby.”
• Nesting usually occurs toward the end of pregnancy and is often an indicator that she is getting ready to give birth. Allow your cat to build her nest where she prefers, as long as it is a safe location where she and the kittens won’t be harmed. If you try to move her nest she may just move it back or become stressed.
• Other changes in behavior can also occur. If you think your cat is acting much different than usual, then she might not be feeling herself lately.

Once you have determined that your cat may be pregnant, you should take her to the vet to see if she needs any special care or changes in her diet during this special time. The veterinarian will also try to confirm the pregnancy.

The veterinarian may use these methods to detect your cat’s pregnancy:

• Palpation - This is where he will carefully feel around your cat’s tummy to see if he feels the little growing kittens. This can almost always be done by the third week of pregnancy.
• Ultrasound - Sometimes a veterinarian will use an ultrasound to diagnose pregnancy. In this case a cat’s fetus can usually be seen by the 2nd week of gestation.
• X-ray - A less expensive procedure can determine your cat’s pregnancy status. An X-ray will show the tiny kittens’ skeletons inside the cat. This is usually a safe procedure since it is only done once and only emits a small amount of radiation at the cat.

The average gestation in cats is between 58 and 71 days, or about 9 weeks. If she only recently got away, then it may not be too late to have her spayed as she may not yet be pregnant. But, if you aren’t certain whether or not she is pregnant you may want to consider whether you should find homes for the resulting kittens. Talk this over with your veterinarian and he will help you find the right decision for you and your cat.

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