You are here:

Cats/Pregnant Cat

Advertisement

Expert: - 4/18/2010


Question
Our cat Chi is pregnant. She has been for a while. We first noticed that her nipples were bigger but not pink during the first week of March 2010. It is now April 18th 2010, her nipples are even bigger still not pink, her abdomen is very wide, we can feel the kittens moving, and there is brownish colored crust around her nipples. We clean her often but the next day the crust is always back. She is eating and pooping more than ever and when she isn't eating or pooping, she is sleeping. We are so excited and just want to know how mush longer will it be til the little ones arrive?

Answer
Jessica,

Cat gestation is 65-67 days after the cats mate, with 63 days being a normal minimum and 69 days being a normal maximum.  The nipples usually get a bit bigger and protruding and pink after the first 21 days, but then, after a couple of days, go back to normal to get larger and pinker as she gets closer to delivering the kittens.

My guess is that it should not be much longer now as it sounds as if her milk may be coming in.  You may want to check her out with the vet to see if the crustiness is normal and just to get a good pre-natatl check up.  Also, you should discuss with your vet what to do if she has any trouble, especially after business hours.

Please let me know what happens and if you have any more questions.

Best regards... Norm.  

Cats

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

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.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.