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Cats/signs and how long

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Expert: - 3/4/2011


Question
what  are  some  signs  that  a  cat  is  pregnant,  and  how  long   are  they  pregnant  for?  please  get  back  to  me  soon.

Answer
Jessica,

Cats do not ovulate until they are bred.  So, about 17-21 days after breeding (we begin counting on the second day of breeding), the female's nipples should get pink and begin to protrude. This phenomenon lasts only a few days, so you just have to keep checking because at about day 22-24 the nipples are back to normal.  For a few weeks afterwards, there will be no more obvious signs.  Long about weeks 6 or 7 she should begin gaining weight and pouching out on the sides.  

Cat gestation is 65-67 days after breeding. 63 days would be a normal minimum and 68 days is the maximum you should wait before seeing your vet.

If it turns out she is pregnant, get back to me and I will give you some guidelines for the week or so leading up to birth.

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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