Cat Pregnancy Week By Week
When I started on this journey I had poured countless hours of time into researching breeding cats, asked other breeders questions  I had, read numerous articles, books, and watched countless videos.  I have grown up with cats my entire life, bottle fed motherless kittens, but I have never personally witnessed a breeding cat or a cat giving birth.
When Voodoo went into heat on December 8th, we decided to breed her with Kris King. If cats go through several heat cycles without being bred, they are at risk for a deadly infection called pyometra. 
Fast forward a few weeks later and we received confirmation from our vet with an ultrasound that she was pregnant with at least 3 kittens. Fast forward a few weeks from that and the vet was able to confirm with an exam and xray that Voodoo was expecting at least 6 kittens!  It has been such a miracle and blessing to watch Voodoo grow and change as each week progresses.  Here are the stages of a cat pregnancy week by week:
Weeks 0-2
  • ovulation takes place 24-36 hours after mating.
  • Blastocysts implant in the wall of the uterus.
  • Morning sickness may occur (Voodoo did throw up a few times in the first few weeks of her pregnancy). 
Weeks 3-4
  • Important organs begin to develop.
  • Momma cat's nipples begin to enlarge and pinken.
  • Kittens can be detected by ultrasound about 4 weeks after fertilization.
Week 5 
  • Momma cat requires more food to keep up with the growing babies. At this time it is advised to increase the pregnant cat's food portions but don't overfeed.
Week 6-7
  • Momma cat spends more time self-grooming. 
  • Breasts become even more swollen.
  • You can feel the kittens moving.
Week 8-10
  • Momma may need your help grooming.
  • Hair should carefully be trimmed around the nipples. 
  • Cat will start nesting 12-14 hours before giving birth. 
First Signs of Labor
Most pregnant cat's will lose their mucous plug (a yelowish or red discharge) before labor begins. Most cats will deliver a kitten ever 30-6- minutes. Kittens that are delivered hours after usually have healthy problems or retardation. 
Here is our sweet girl Voodoo with her growing belly! Today is Februay 10,2020;  a typical cat gestation is about 9 weeks or 63 days... we can not wait to meet these sweet kittens any day now!!!