Concats? Rachael,
Do you know for certain how far along she was when you brought her home?
I know – you want to see what the kittens will look like, what their colors will be, and to cradle the precious little ones in the palm of your hands. But that was five days ago and your Queen seems to have other plans. She doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to have her kittens. Your pregnant cat is overdue, she is taking her sweet time…and it is driving you nuts!
The “gestation period” takes an average of 63 to 65 days. But in cats this period is variable. It can be as short as 56 days to as long as 72 days. The reason for this wide range of values is because of the nature of female cats being “induced ovulators”.
Induced ovulator simply means that the female cat will release an egg from its ovary only after she has mated several times with the male cat. If the start date of the gestation period is not accurately known then it follows that the due date can, at best, only be estimated.
Always seek veterinary advice if any of the following occur
Here are the most common signs the Queen is in distress:
Twenty minutes of intense labor without a kitten being delivered.
After ten minutes of intense labor a kitten or a fluid-filled bubble is visible in the birth canal, but not progressing.
The mother experiences sudden depression or marked lethargy.
Elevation of body temperature exceeds 103oF (39.4oC).
Fresh blood discharges from the vagina for more than 10 minutes.
You call the vet. However, if she’s not in obvious labor, it’s hard to tell whether she’s having difficulties.
let’s us know how you’re doing.
PG
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