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Cats/Pregnant cat question?

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Expert: - 5/20/2009


Question
Hello x
If a cat is pregnant can it go into hear during the pregnancy or do they come out of heat after they are pregnant and that heat is over?
I have been researching this for ages and i cant seem to have a conclusion on this yet and some people say yes and some say no so i was wondering through personal experience maybe, you'd know?
Thanks x

Answer
Chelsea,

Normally, the female comes out of heat within a few day after being bred.  She usually does not season again until the kittens are 3-5 weeks of age (called a "lactation" heat).

What can happen is that, if she id far enough along and there is a problem with the pregnancy, she can reabsorb the litter and still appear pregnant (until the uterus shrinks back to normal).  If she comes into season then it may appear that she is in season while pregnant even though she is not still pregnant.

I suppose nature can make a mistake, and the queen may actually come into season while pregnant, but, if, indeed, this happened, it would be extremely rare!

Best regards... Norm.  

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Norman Auspitz

Expertise

I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.

Experience

I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.


Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.

Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook

Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.

Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.

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