Pregnant moms can also pass the bacteria to the baby. A cat’s gestation period – how long she is pregnant – is typically 60 to 63 days. My husband says that we should get rid of our two cats because they could endanger my pregnancy. She will have no psychological effect if she is spayed while pregnant. The … You may be wondering why. Two pounds is the weight that is required for your kitten to get desexing surgery. Even if you’re not immune, you can reduce your risk, by following the tips below from the CDC: Stay Connected With Dr. Weil - Get Free Newsletters Right In Your Inbox, Information on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. Posteriorly presented, or tail-first, kittens occur quite frequently, so much so that this could almost be considered a normal presentation, often causing no delay in birth. Like dogs, you have to watch out for bites, scratches, and ticks. Cats pick up the parasite from uncooked meat, and small animals they may kill and eat outdoors. I have a Siamese and she's no issue. You do not need to stay away from cats while you're pregnant. Labor takes place in 3 stages: 1) nesting behavior and comfort seeking are seen, and the cat may stop eating within 24 hours of birth; 2) active stage of labor where contractions may be seen, and kittens are produced. It just goes to show that cats can get pregnant even as young as four months of age, which is far too young. The infection, toxoplasmosis, can be passed to humans via cat feces. Only during each period of estrus does your little one become capable of reproducing. The cat gestation period can vary from as short as 61 days to as long as 72 days. She writes about many subjects including pets, finances, crafts, food, home improvement, shopping and going green. Keep in mind that members of the same litter can mate and reproduce together, so you must also isolate her from any male siblings who haven't yet been neutered. She's indoors, so the risk is much lower and my husband does the litter box. Spay FIRST! Pregnant women may assume they need to give their cats away because toxoplasmosis can cause birth defects in … If your kitty goes into heat, you'll have to wait until her cycle is finished before having her spayed because of the increased risk of bleeding during surgery that can occur, according to Catster. Any third party offering or advertising on this website does not constitute an endorsement by Andrew Weil, M.D. In fact, you may have already been exposed to toxoplasmosis. Once they come into heat, they will cycle frequently and its sometimes harder to spay. Approximately one-third of women in the United States are immune; the likelihood of immunity is highest among women who have owned cats for a long time. or Healthy Lifestyle Brands. They will NOT miss the kittens if they don't have them. Domestic cats usually reach sexual maturity (puberty) between five to 12 months, at which time they experience their first estrus. I have a 1year old male cat and now own an 18week old female kitten. Two pounds is the weight that is required for your kitten to get desexing surgery. While she's in estrus, it's important to keep your little one indoors at all times because a brief outing can result in a pregnancy. There's no problem with getting a kitten while pregnant. She is capable of becoming pregnant during her first period of estrus. During her heat cycles, your kitty's periods of estrus last anywhere from three to 16 days at a time, with breaks in between of three to 14 days, according to the Louisiana State University College of Veterinary Medicine. The kitten is usually passed eventually. When you get them spayed. Some people cannot bear the thought of killing fetal kittens. However, it's best that you don't change cat litter. If you prepare any meat for yourself or your cat, make sure it is thoroughly cooked. The act of mating causes cats to ovulate, so although not common, it is possible for a single litter to contain kittens from different fathers. If, however, the first kitten comes tail-first there may well be delay owing to the absence of the wedge-shaped head pushing behind the fluid-filled membranes. The symptoms are the same during pregnancy, except it can be more dangerous. Only cats who ingest tissue cysts get infected. Feed your cat only dry or canned cat food. Cat pregnancy normally lasts between 63 to 67 days, but it can be tough to know exactly how long a cat is pregnant for. Full term pregnancy in cats is usually between 63 and 65 days during which time energy requirements increase to 1.5 times normal. After ten minutes of intense labour a kitten or a fluid-filled bubble is visible in the birth canal, but not progressing. If she is allowed to mate with an available, mature male cat while in estrus, she has the ability to become pregnant, regardless of how young she is. This is not healthy for them, and it adds to the overabundance of kittens in the world. The process of a mama cat getting ready to have kittens is called "queening." Many kittens born will wind up as Free Kittens. Can Kittens That Are 4 Months Old Get Pregnant? ©Copyright 2021 Healthy Lifestyle Brands, LLC. After the female cat becomes pregnant, her body slowly changes over the next 63 days as the fetuses grow. Getting toxoplasmosis while pregnant could lead to a spontaneous abortion or miscarriage or can cause blindness, hearing loss, or mental retardation in your baby. About 85% of pregnant women in the United States are at risk for toxoplasmosis infection. Changing cat litter puts you at risk for contracting an infection called toxoplasmosis.There are several ways that a pregnant woman could contract toxoplasmosis, but cats are known to be common carriers of the infection. You'll also find that she will mark the inside of your home with her urine. A cat’s gestation period – how long she is pregnant – is typically 60 to 63 days. Don’t touch stray cats or kittens. Full term pregnancy in cats is usually between 63 and 65 days during which time energy requirements increase to 1.5 times normal. Kittens as young as four months old can get pregnant, and can have up to 3 or 4 litters a year. They mate from instinct. When a pregnant cat is allowed to have her kittens, even if good homes are found for them, you can bet that there are that many bright eyed little fluff balls in the local kill shelters that will have to killed for lack of homes. Don’t handle or adopt stray cats, and don’t bring a new cat that might have been an outdoor cat into your house. Based in Las Vegas, Susan Paretts has been writing since 1998. Labor takes place in 3 stages: 1) nesting behavior and comfort seeking are seen, and the cat may stop eating within 24 hours of birth; 2) active stage of labor where contractions may be seen, and kittens are produced. This will reduce the risk. Yes, and this is why people are frightened that petting their cats while pregnant might endanger a gestating fetus. If you want to get your kitten spayed or neutered when it is two months old, then look for signs that it is that age. The only way a kitten can become pregnant is if she has gone into estrus, commonly referred to as heat. The youngest a kitty typically goes into heat is around 3 1/2 months old, according to the December 2001 issue of "Compendium." Should Pregnant Cats Be Spayed? Not only will it mean that they get high quality milk, but it will also help them wean, as they will copy her and try some of the food she eats. Always seek veterinary advice if any of the following occur: Twenty minutes of intense labour without a kitten being delivered. She needs enough nutrition for her own body to grow, as well as feeding her kittens, so make sure she gets enough quality food. After the female cat becomes pregnant, her body slowly changes over the next 63 days as the fetuses grow. Late pregnancy and premonitory signs of parturition. The first sign of pregnancy occurs at about three weeks into her pregnancy, when her nipples will get … Because it's difficult for cats to transmit toxoplasmosis directly to their caregivers, a pregnant woman is generally unlikely to contract the disease from her pet cat. You should not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication or other treatment. A blood test can tell you whether you’ve been exposed to toxoplasmosis in the past. Your kitty only ovulates when she mates with a male tom cat, which can happen within minutes. If you get infected with toxoplasmosis in the first trimester, the risk that your baby will also be infected is about 15 percent. You do not need to stay away from cats while you're pregnant. The infection doesn’t make cats sick so you wouldn’t know if your pet was carrying it. But with cats, you also have to be careful about dealing with cat poop. The infection doesn’t make cats sick so you wouldn’t know if your pet was carrying it. Cats do not get pregnant because they want to have a family. It’s safest to offer your cat commercial cat food (not raw) for the duration of your pregnancy. This means that your little 4-month-old kitten could give birth to kittens at only 6 months of age. I suspect this is an old wives tale. No. In general, a kitten that is two months old should weigh approximately two pounds, as long as it has had proper nutrition and care. In most cases, once a person gets toxoplasmosis, he/she cannot get it again. Diarrhea and vomiting can lead to dehydration, and although it’s rare, salmonellosis can cause a blood infection (bacteremia) or meningitis. All rights reserved. (You can also pick up the parasite from unwashed fruits and vegetables.) If you have an indoor cat, the likelihood for infection is smaller. The parasite that causes the infection is carried by many cats and passed in their stool. It can be an exciting time when your cat is about to give birth to kittens and as long as it is a planned pregnancy that you've closely monitored, there should not be too much to worry about. Either that or she’s got lots of kittens in there! : How Early Can My Cat or Dog Get Pregnant, Louisiana State University College of Veterinary Medicine: Feline Estrous Cycle, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: Early Spay/Neuter, The Cat: Clinical Medicine and Management; Susan Little. It's important to understand the disease. The first sign of pregnancy occurs at about three weeks into her pregnancy, when her nipples will get … I don’t think you have to get rid of your cats, but you do have to be careful. While this danger is real, it is remote. Holds a Master of Professional writing from the University of Southern California National Bank 's and! Causes toxoplasmosis in their stool weeks along in her pregnancy the inside of your home so she can a! Be more dangerous on this website does not constitute an endorsement by Andrew Weil M.D... No issue cat getting ready to have kittens is called `` queening. a family an infection called.! 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