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. Your cat (queen) often won’t show any physical symptoms of pregnancy until she is a few weeks into her term. Domestic cats usually reach sexual maturity (puberty) between five to 12 months, at which time they experience their first estrus. There is a small chance that contact with their litter pan could lead to an infection that would threaten your pregnancy. Flatulence is more common in dogs than in cats, but cats can develop gas when food ferments in the digestive tract, when they swallow air after eating too fast or too much, or if there’s a disorder of the stomach, small intestine or colon.. A little gas is a natural part of the digestive process and usually passes quickly. 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. Like dogs, you have to watch out for bites, scratches, and ticks. She's indoors, so the risk is much lower and my husband does the litter box. Giving kitten formula to your pet also has benefits for her growing kittens. Getting toxoplasmosis while pregnant could lead to a spontaneous abortion or miscarriage or can cause blindness, hearing loss, or mental retardation in your baby. This way you won't have to worry about a surprise litter of kittens from your own little kitten. 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. Your kitty will usually only go into heat during the spring and summer months, although warm, tropical climates can trigger estrus in your kitty all year long, according to the VCA Animal Hospitals website. Getting toxoplasmosis while pregnant could lead to a spontaneous abortion or miscarriage or can cause blindness, hearing loss, or mental retardation in your baby. If you are pregnant, you have probably heard that you should not change cat litter during your pregnancy. Spay FIRST! If possible, have the litter changed daily. She’s about seven months old and probably as many weeks along in her pregnancy. my worry is that she may be able to get pregnant if they get time together accidently (e.g my 3 year old leaving door open accidently). Wear gloves when gardening and during contact with soil or sand because it might be contaminated with cat feces that contain Toxoplasma. Purina: At What Age Can My Cat Become Pregnant? Some breeds like the Burmese mature early, around 4 months of age, while the Persian matures later, closer to 12 months of age, according to "Compendium." Feed your cat only dry or canned cat food. It's important to understand the disease. The cat’s behaviour alters little until the final week of the pregnancy. 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. Cat litter and cat poo can contain a parasite that causes toxoplasmosis infection. The only way a kitten can become pregnant is if she has gone into estrus, commonly referred to as heat. Cat feces can contain the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis. Many kittens born will wind up as Free Kittens. About 85% of pregnant women in the United States are at risk for toxoplasmosis infection. Tara: One thing we do know is that when a cat is pregnant, the blood supply to the uterus increases dramatically. Cat poo can carry a parasite that causes an infection called toxoplasmosis. Full term pregnancy in cats is usually between 63 and 65 days during which time energy requirements increase to 1.5 times normal. Keep outdoor sandboxes covered. Should Pregnant Cats Be Spayed? 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. 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. Queens can keep going into heat every 2 to 3 weeks from the spring through the early fall, making them ready to reproduce more often than not. A cat’s gestation period – how long she is pregnant – is typically 60 to 63 days. As hard as it may be to believe, your 4-month-old little kitten can become pregnant if she has reached puberty by this age. Some people cannot bear the thought of killing fetal kittens. Cat pregnancy normally lasts between 63 to 67 days, but it can be tough to know exactly how long a cat is pregnant for. Based in Las Vegas, Susan Paretts has been writing since 1998. My husband says that we should get rid of our two cats because they could endanger my pregnancy. She is capable of becoming pregnant during her first period of estrus. The parasite that causes the infection is carried by many cats and passed in their stool. Spaying a pregnant cat terminates the pregnancy, making this a controversial issue. You do not need to stay away from cats while you're pregnant. Each kitty is a unique individual and may not go into heat until 6 months or even up to 12 months of age in some cases, according to "The Cat: Clinical Medicine and Management." Others raise concern allowing the pregnant cat to have kittens contributes to the pet overpopulation problem. Pet owners, particularly older adults, are more likely to have lower blood pressure and higher self-esteem, and are less likely to be depressed than people who don’t have companion animals. You can get it into your body by touching infected poop and then touching your mouth. www.drweil.com. Prevent your furbaby from having unwanted kittens by spaying her early in life. Any third party offering or advertising on this website does not constitute an endorsement by Andrew Weil, M.D. You do not need to stay away from cats while you're pregnant. To prevent unwanted litters of any breed, it's best to have your furry companion spayed prior to 3 months old. I’ve just learned that I’m pregnant. Can Kittens That Are 4 Months Old Get Pregnant? A cat’s gestation period – how long she is pregnant – is typically 60 to 63 days. Late pregnancy and premonitory signs of parturition. Kitties mature young, typically between 4 and 6 months old. There's no problem with getting a kitten while pregnant. 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. The infection, toxoplasmosis, can be passed to humans via cat feces. It is also possible for the mother to experience something called interrupted labor in cats. The infection doesn’t make cats sick so you wouldn’t know if your pet was carrying it. 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. A female cat can get pregnant when they are as young as 4 months old, unless they have been spayed to prevent that. Have someone else change your cat’s litter box while you’re pregnant. If you have an indoor cat, the likelihood for infection is smaller. 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. : 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 is best to disinfect the pan with boiling water for five minutes before refilling it with litter.) The only way a kitten can become pregnant is if she has gone into estrus, commonly referred to as heat. To prevent your little one from having to go through estrus at all or have the possibility of becoming pregnant, have her spayed prior to 3 months of age. (You can also pick up the parasite from unwashed fruits and vegetables.) However, it's best that you don't change cat litter. Cat poo can carry a parasite that causes an infection called toxoplasmosis. Kittens as young as 8 weeks old can safely be spayed by a veterinarian, as long as they weigh around 2 pounds, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. A cat can get it if it eats prey, raw, or undercooked meat with the parasite, or comes into contact with contaminated soil. Although most cats deliver their litter without any assistance, problems can occasionally arise which require the attention of a Vet. While this danger is real, it is remote. But with cats, you also have to be careful about dealing with cat poop. They will NOT miss the kittens if they don't have them. 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. Her Heat Cycles Stop. A blood test can tell you whether you’ve been exposed to toxoplasmosis in the past. 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