Important questions for the breeder: how long does a cat give birth for the first time and then what affects the number?

What determines the number of kittens in a litter?

First, you should know what factors influence the number of kittens a cat can give birth to. There are many of them, they are very diverse. The main ones are :

• Breed . It has long been noted that the more purebred a cat is, the fewer kittens it will have in one litter. It is not uncommon for a purebred mother to give birth to only one kitten.
• Age when pregnancy began . A young cat, especially if this is her first lambing, will give birth to one to three kittens. The number of babies will be kept within the same limit until the cat is three years old. From the fourth year onwards, sexual activity and reproductive function peak. Accordingly, the litter increases. At the age of 4-6 years, the pet will bear and give birth to from 4 to 12 kittens. After this, a decline sets in, the chances of getting pregnant decrease, and if an interesting period begins, then again, there will most likely be only one kitten.
• Genetic predisposition . A cat's multiple births are almost always inherited. If her mother often gave birth to many kittens, then she will give birth to more than usual.
• Partner's sexual activity . The more active the cat, the greater the chance that the cat will produce numerous offspring.
• And hormonal imbalances and diseases of the genitourinary system significantly reduce both the possibility of prolonging the birth and the number of kittens born.
• The number of times a cat gives birth per year also has a significant impact . Frequent pregnancies exhaust the body, and each subsequent lambing will be smaller and weaker.
• Animal nutrition and weight . With a balanced diet and normal weight, a cat gives birth to 3 to 8 kittens per lamb. Inadequate diet and weight problems, on the contrary, lead to fewer kittens being born. Sometimes infertility occurs altogether.

It turns out that a healthy cat, pregnant for the first time, will give birth to 1-3 kittens. Subsequent litters can number up to 8-12 babies. But by the age of seven, their number will again drop to 2-3 individuals per lambing.

How does the approach of labor appear?

So, the cat has been pregnant for about two months and the date of birth of the kittens is approaching, and with it the tension of the worried owners is increasing. How to understand that a cat is about to give birth is absolutely easy. Paying close attention to the main signs of the onset of labor in an animal, it is easy to notice how labor begins:

1. The cat loses its appetite, it becomes motionless, lethargic (a clear indicator that in just a few hours it will be possible to give birth to your pet).
2. Actively searching for a secluded place or, conversely, arranging a visually accessible area for the owners to view (meanwhile, it is better to determine the area for a long process in advance, although there is no guarantee that the animal will approve of it).
3. Signs such as the release of a mucus plug and the appearance of vaginal discharge are indisputable proof that childbirth will be possible soon, literally in two to three hours.
4. Your pet is about to give birth if her nipples are swollen and colostrum is released from them.

It’s easy for women to imagine how cats give birth, because they probably had to directly or indirectly face such a question. But when the mission of an assistant in the process of giving birth to kittens is entrusted to a man, he will have to familiarize himself with some features of the physiology of tailed animals so as not to make mistakes if necessary.

How many kittens does a cat bear: ways to determine the number of fetuses

A cat's pregnancy lasts about 65 days. Already in the third week of an interesting position, her tummy becomes rounded. At this stage, the kittens can be felt by lightly massaging the mother's belly. Although veterinarians do not advise doing this in order to avoid negative consequences for both the babies and their mother. There are safer ways to find out how many kittens a cat will have this time :

• Folk - not the most accurate, but safe and simple. You just need to count the number of the cat’s mammary glands and subtract the number 2 from them. The resulting figure means the number of future kittens.
• Medical - veterinarians advise simply giving the cat an ultrasound examination. It is usually prescribed in the second month of pregnancy. Using an ultrasound, you can find out the exact number of kittens without causing harm.

So when the signs of pregnancy in a cat are already visible to the naked eye, you can safely go to the veterinarian, who will refer the expectant mother for an ultrasound. Do not neglect the achievements of medicine, because the health of a domestic cat is very important, especially if she is pregnant.

Length of pregnancy

The normal gestation period for a cat is 65 days, which can also be described as 9 weeks. You can remember this very easily if you draw a parallel with the 9 months of pregnancy in a woman.

If you need to find out how many days a British cat's pregnancy will last, you can use the given figure plus minus 5 days. In long-haired breeds, the variations are much greater - gestation can last from two months to exactly 75 days.

Experienced veterinarians who know how long pregnancy in animals should last say that cats may have several variants of pathologies that should be avoided. Among them are:

1. Exhaustion of the body can lead to childbirth before 60 days: in such a situation, the prognosis for the viability of the offspring is negative.
2. Severe fright in the last weeks of pregnancy can lead to the fact that birth does not occur until the 70th day, which can lead to pathological changes in the cat’s body.
3. In Persian cats with a fearful character, it is very rarely possible to predict how long the gestation period lasts - it all depends on the specific conditions of detention, however, in a stressful environment, a period of 72 days is considered normal.

If you are unsure about the timing of your pregnancy and think the birth is delayed, be sure to contact your veterinarian who can answer all your questions.

When contractions do not begin, although the animal shows noticeable signs of anxiety, they need to be stimulated

Lay your cat on your lap and gently massage her stomach and back. Try to feel the uterus and the kittens inside it

If this condition lasts more than 6 hours, seek medical help.

How many kittens can a cat give birth to?

Many cat owners worry about their pets' fertility. This issue is especially important to owners of rare breeds of animals. Cats are very prolific creatures. The female is capable of bearing and giving birth to kittens constantly. Over the course of a lifetime, a cat can become a mother to almost two hundred kittens. Naturally, this figure is approximate, since a different number of fluffies are born per lamb. Some cats are capable of producing a rich litter of 8–10 kittens. Others are scarce - 2-3 kittens. This depends on various factors of the animal's genetics, biology and environment.

And here comes the baby

As soon as the amniotic sac ruptures, it is time to wait for the arrival of your first baby. First, amniotic fluid comes out, which softens the birth canal. In a few minutes the first kitten should appear. Some pets give birth to their entire litter within 5 minutes of each other. Others need half an hour for each furry angel. It is impossible to predict how long it will take a cat to cope. But if 30 minutes have passed after the birth of the first kitten, and the brothers still do not leave the womb, you need to urgently take action.

The birth should end within 2-4 hours; after the birth of each baby, the cat, armed with natural instincts, begins to play the role of mother. She meets the kitten, sniffs it, and immediately licks its face. After which it gnaws the umbilical cord and eats all unnecessary amniotic membranes. The placenta leaves the uterus on its own. Owners should not be frightened by the fact that the cat eats the afterbirth. But it is important to know that if your pet has a gastrointestinal disorder, the placenta in the stomach may be to blame.

How many kittens can a cat give birth to?

On average, one cat pregnancy can give birth to 6-8 kittens. But there are different indicators. For example, there is a well-publicized case in which a Persian cat named Bluebell gave birth to fifteen kittens at a time, fourteen of which were alive and well.

There are cases of birth of only one or two kittens. It is worth noting here that the birth of one kitten to an adult cat with more than her first pregnancy is a pathology. After such a birth, the cat should be shown to the veterinarian. Perhaps the lambing was unsuccessful, and a dead baby was stuck in the mother’s body. Or the cat has diseases that make it impossible to get normal offspring.

It has been noticed that street cats give birth to much more offspring than their pampered counterparts in apartment conditions. This is due to the fact that in the natural environment more dangers await babies, and it is genetically determined that in order to procreate in such conditions, the offspring must be numerous.

First pregnancy

Statistics show that a primiparous cat will have a small litter. Most often, a pet brings no more than three kittens. This is due to the incompletely formed structure of the genital organs.

A first-time cat usually has no more than three kittens.

The first pregnancy in a cat can occur at the age of 8–9 months, usually by this time the young cat is fully mature. But due to the fact that the body is young and tender, the birth of kittens is a risk factor for the expectant mother. Animals living in nature are uncontrollable. Then natural selection plays its role. But if a cat lives in a house and is looked after by a loving owner, he should not allow mating until the female is at least a year old. It’s better to wait until the age of one and a half years.

Cat in active childbearing phase

The average for a mature cat with more than her first pregnancy is 4–6 kittens. Cats often give birth to 8–10 babies.

Based on the physiology of the cat's structure, the number of kittens should not exceed the number of nipples in the animal. There are eight of them in total. This is an extreme indicator and should be a guideline for any breeder. If there are more than eight kittens, they will begin to experience a clear lack of mother's milk due to lack of space around the nipple. And some of such a litter may die.

An old-time cat, like a young cat, gives birth to few cubs. This is due to wear and tear of the reproductive system.

How does this interesting situation unfold?

Caring owners expecting offspring keep special notebooks to monitor how their beloved cat’s pregnancy progresses. You can make a schedule week by week and note all the changes that occur with your cat. This will make it easier to compare the animal’s current health status with the norms. The table shows the optimal course of pregnancy.

Table - Cat pregnancy by week

Just before giving birth, the cat is active. The pet follows its owner, meows, and fusses in the area designated for lambing. The cat's figure becomes pear-shaped: the roundness moves towards the exit of the uterus. There are spasms - contractions. Having noticed these signs, the owner should prepare for childbirth.

Superfetation

During the third to sixth week of pregnancy, a cat may begin to undergo a planned estrus. This happens to one in ten pregnant cats and is considered normal in urban apartments. The body, which receives all the benefits for a happy life (light, warmth, food), “ignores” pregnancy and is ready to mate. This happens due to hormonal imbalance, namely due to a lack of progesterone, which is responsible for bearing offspring.

If your cat often licks her genitals or behaves restlessly, test for the presence of estrus. Apply a tissue to your vulva. If there are transparent spots left on it, the cat has flown.

There is no reason to worry, you just need to protect the expectant mother from potential sexual partners. Otherwise, re-fertilization will occur, which can result in one of three situations:

• miscarriage - both the “older” and “younger” offspring die;
• prematurity - the first kittens are born healthy, the second - premature or dead;
• repeat birth - three to six weeks after the first birth, the cat gives birth again (rarely happens).

The most favorable outcome for a cat is to give birth to healthy kittens from both fathers. However, the mother has a limited number of nipples, and the offspring from the second fertilization may die of starvation.

False pregnancy

It happens that symptoms of pregnancy appear, but the cat does not give birth. This is a false pregnancy. In fact, fertilization has not occurred, but the pet behaves like a future mother. Her shape becomes rounder, her mammary glands swell, and her appetite changes.

The cat begins to build a nest, becomes irritable or, conversely, quiet and calm. An imaginary pregnancy is clearly expressed in the “adoption” of slippers, socks, and mittens. The cat can carry things around the apartment like cubs, and even feed milk.

False pregnancy in cats is not a whim or a game of “mommy”, but a serious mental illness associated with hormonal imbalance. It appears in both mated and chaste pets. Siamese and Persian cats are prone to false pregnancies. Possible causes of hormonal imbalance are:

• stress, emotional shock;
• stimulating ovulation in a castrated cat;
• infectious diseases of the reproductive organs;
• pathologies of the thyroid gland;
• attention deficit;
• proximity to pregnant and lactating cats;
• heredity.

The disorder is treated with a low-calorie diet (milk production decreases) and medications prescribed by a veterinarian. Without treatment of false pregnancy, a cat may develop mastopathy. This is a disease of the pet's mammary glands, which leads to malignant tumors. Also, an imaginary pregnancy, left to chance, will have a bad effect on the psyche, character and behavior of the animal.

To protect your pet from mental and physiological disorders, it is necessary to carry out timely diagnosis of pregnancy. The easiest way to verify the presence of offspring is with an ultrasound, which can be done as early as the third week.

How to determine how many kittens are in the womb

There are several ways to tell the owner how many babies the pet will bring:

• Genetics. You need to look at the number of kittens born to the mother of a pregnant pet. A cat's fertility is reflected in its offspring. For example, if the mother of a pregnant cat brought 8 kittens at a time, then this individual will have the same number. If this figure was reduced to two or four, then you should not expect a large offspring.
• Folk wisdom. Experienced breeders use a simple counting method. The total number of mammary glands of the female is taken into account (not all nipples, but precisely those glands that swelled during pregnancy) and subtracted by two. This method cannot guarantee 100% results. However, it is often applicable.
• The science. Veterinarians and felinologists advise checking the expectant mother cat using modern technology, for example, an ultrasound examination. The time for the procedure is scheduled approximately a week before the expected lambing. This method will give an exact figure for the future offspring.

Ultrasound examination can show the exact number of kittens

You should not try to determine how many kittens are in a cat’s belly by palpating. This can harm the embryos and cause stress in the animal.

Video: analysis of a horary chart - how many kittens a cat will have

Fertility rate in cats

Felinologists have developed a large number of new breeds of cats, and often, for the sake of one trait, others were abandoned. Pedigree pets rarely give birth to more than 5 kittens, and yard representatives can give birth to 15 cubs. Accordingly, the more pets are born, the greater the likelihood that one of them will continue the family line.

For an approximate calculation of future offspring, professionals recommend paying attention to the number of nipples the expectant mother has. Subtract two from their number and get the approximate number of kittens that should appear. There can be from 6 to 11 mammary glands, but most often there are 8. This method is approximate and often does not work.

Safe methods to increase cat fertility

When the cat is purebred and the owners are planning breeding, the question arises of increasing the birth rate. Designing the scale of offspring is not a simple matter, because it involves interfering with the natural processes of the body. The main task here is not to harm the animal.

Naturally, you can’t do without medications:

Today's veterinary market offers a lot of homeopathic products that do not harm your beloved pet. Among them, Gamavit and Ovariovit received excellent recommendations. These drugs are designed to restore the function of the reproductive system, affecting the formation of a large number of eggs.

Ovariovit is a homeopathic drug for the prevention and treatment of ovarian dysfunction in cats, increases fertility, reduces the risk of false pregnancies

The stimulation process must begin long before mating. If pregnancy has taken place, all manipulations will be meaningless.

Small and multiple pregnancy of cats - which is better

It is rare to find a breeder who welcomes a cat to become pregnant with a large litter. Multiple pregnancy is fraught with numerous adverse consequences. This is unsafe for the tailed mother, and the financial aspect matters. Before kittens find a new home, they need proper care, and this includes costs for food, hygiene products, and litter.

Multiple pregnancy exhausts a cat

A large number of cubs (let’s imagine that 10 of them were born) tires the mother, “squeezing all the juice out of her.” The female is unlikely to be able to feed them on her own.

I have personally experienced the adverse effects of a large number of kittens on a nursing cat. My two cats gave birth 2 days apart. Between them they had 7 kittens, and they coped with them quite well. But two weeks later I took in the foundlings - three newborn kittens abandoned by someone. The cats accepted them immediately. It seemed that the number of kids (ten) between two was quite acceptable, but I noticed that the cats began to lie in the box one at a time. One of the foundlings had to be fed additionally - he simply did not have enough space at the nipple, and he could not get to it on his own due to weakness. By the time all the kittens were feeding on their own, my cats were like walking skeletons, even though I fed them well given their circumstances. So I came to the conclusion that many kittens, even if the cat has no problems with lactation, is not very good for both the mother and the babies.

Multiple pregnancies often end in stillborn kittens, since the cat’s physiology cannot cope with the large volume of embryos.

A low-fertility pregnancy, in turn, can lead to the baby getting stuck in the birth canal, because usually the kittens in such litters are quite large. This will lead to an emergency cesarean section (in the best case, if the owner starts sounding the alarm in time, in the worst case, the cat may die, like her baby). Excess unclaimed milk contributes to the development of mastitis, which also has a risk of unfavorable developments.

The best option for a cat is the golden mean, that is, 4–6 kittens.

It is worth understanding that the most important thing is not the number of kittens born, no matter how expensive they may be, but the health of the cat and her offspring. Procreation is an amazing process gifted by nature. You should not interfere with its laws. You just need to help the animal in this difficult matter.

Problems during childbirth that you can solve on your own

As soon as the second, most important phase of childbirth begins, the cat’s owner must be nearby at all times in order to notice possible pathologies in time and provide assistance to the animal. With regular contractions, you can give an injection of calcium gluconate (1 ml) at 3-4 different points on the cat’s body, and another injection after birth - this will help the cat endure contractions more easily and prevent eclampsia. The need to administer other drugs (Travmatin, Gamavit, etc.) depends on the condition of the animal, the presence or absence of problems during the delivery process.

Help for a giving birth cat is only necessary if there are complications.

What to do, if:

The kitten is stuck in the genital tract and comes out with its back or tail first. This happens when the fetus is malpresented or in situations where the kitten is quite large. If left to chance, the baby may suffocate in the birth canal, so the owner needs to put on disposable gloves, lubricate his fingertips with Vaseline and carefully pull him out. It is better to pull not by the paws (there is a high risk of breaking or damaging them), but by the skin on the withers, grabbing it with three fingers. The amniotic sac did not rupture. In such cases, the cat must rupture the membrane of the amniotic sac itself, but sometimes it cannot perform its functions due to inexperience or weakness, and then the “obstetrician” must release the kitten

The bubble should be broken close to the baby's nose, being extremely careful not to scratch its delicate skin. The cat did not bite the umbilical cord. Females do not bite the umbilical cord immediately - usually after the baby is completely cleansed of tissue and water residues

If this does not happen 15-20 minutes after the baby comes out, you need to cut it yourself. To do this, the umbilical cord is tied with a clean thread, 4-5 cm away from the kitten’s body, after which it is cut from the side of its abdomen next to the constriction. After completing the procedure, you should make sure that the cat begins to lick the incision site - if she refuses to do this, you need to cauterize it with an antiseptic.

Females do not immediately bite the umbilical cord

The cat does not care for newborns. Licking kittens immediately after their birth is necessary not for reasons of hygiene, but for the start of normal life of the offspring. If the cat has not started grooming the kitten, you need to rupture the amniotic sac, cut the umbilical cord, then wipe the baby with a clean cloth and use a syringe to remove mucus from the nose and mouth. Next, it is advisable to place it on the cat’s nipples - it will begin to drink colostrum, massaging the stomach and nipples with its paws, and the whole process will go faster. The kitten is breathing unevenly or not breathing at all. Most often this happens in cases where he inhales a certain amount of amniotic fluid.

The kitten should be picked up, held head down for a few seconds and gently shaken - after which it should squeak. To make sure that the baby is in normal condition, you can examine his tongue - it should be pink, which indicates normal saturation of the body with oxygen.

The kitten should be picked up and its viability checked

The placenta does not come out of the uterus. If at least one placenta remains in the genital tract and does not come out approximately an hour after the birth of all kittens, you need to carefully pull it out by wrapping your fingers in a clean bandage.

After all the kittens have been born, you need to remove all garbage and dirty diapers, cover the box with clean bedding if necessary, and make sure that all the babies have access to their mother's milk and are sufficiently active. If the cat is in no hurry to show maternal instinct, runs away from the kittens, does not want or for some reason cannot feed them, you should buy a special milk formula and a feeding device (sold in veterinary pharmacies).

After giving birth, you need to make sure that the cat and kittens are healthy

How to feed a newborn kitten if the mother cat refuses to do so

Normal number of kittens in a litter

The question of the number of babies in the litter has practical significance for the owner of a pregnant female: it allows you to simplify obstetric care and have an idea in advance about how many babies need to be placed in good hands.

Many years of experience in keeping domestic cats indicates that the average pet living in favorable conditions gives birth to 4 to 6 kittens. Of course, this figure may change in one direction or another, but the deviation is insignificant.

It is not uncommon for a cat to give birth to 10 or even 15 live cubs per lamb, but this is rather an exception to the rule. It is difficult to guess how many kittens a cat can give birth to. Experienced breeders believe that the size of the offspring depends on the number of milk nipples the female has. To do this, you need to count them and subtract the number 2. This method of determination is not absolutely reliable, but can be adopted.

Physiologically, the size of the offspring is determined by the number of sites where fertilized eggs attach to the walls of the uterus, which in cats consists of two horns. Therefore, young and old females give birth to fewer kittens than animals at optimal reproductive age.

Many factors influence how many kittens a cat can give birth to:

• Age of the expectant mother. Firstborns most often give birth to 1 to 3 babies maximum. Fertility in an old animal decreases. After the age of seven, the pet will produce fewer cubs than a cat under the age of 6-7 years. The peak of multiple births (from 4 to 12 babies per lamb) occurs at the age of 3 to 6 years.

• Heredity. If females in a cat’s family have produced numerous offspring, then there is a high chance that the animal will also have multiple births.

• The reason why a cat gives birth to few kittens is often a hormonal imbalance, leading to a decrease in the synthesis of eggs ready for fertilization.

• Breed. There is a tendency: a purebred animal gives birth to fewer kittens than a purebred animal, and rarely produces more than 5 babies in one lamb.

A little theory

Everyone knows that cats are prolific animals and can bear several kittens from different fathers during one pregnancy. This phenomenon is explained by the special structure of the uterus of carnivores - it is Y-shaped with long horns, in which fertilized eggs are attached. The number of future kittens depends on how many eggs the follicles produce and how many of them are directly fertilized.

In nature, everything is interconnected - this is an indisputable fact. Based on this relationship, it is not difficult to guess that the “right” cat cannot produce more than 8 kittens at a time. Why? She has 8 nipples, which means she should have the same number of children. In principle, this rule works, although the average animal usually gives birth to no more than 6 babies.

But there are also “wrong” cats that manage to give birth to 10, 12, 14 cubs. And one record holder even managed to give birth to 19 newborns at once!

Typically, first-born and young cats bring from 1 to 3 kittens per lamb, which is most likely due to the still poorly formed and not fully developed reproductive system. As they say, in order to achieve maximum speed, it doesn’t hurt to accelerate and get a taste for it.

In older cats, reproductive function gradually fades away, which is why they can also experience low-fertility pregnancies.

How many days does a cat bear offspring?

Experienced owners have an idea of ​​how many kittens a cat carries. The average duration of pregnancy is 59 - 64 days. Representatives of large and long-haired breeds bear babies longer - up to 70 days. Postmaturity has more negative consequences than giving birth prematurely. Therefore, if you suspect that pregnancy is prolonging, you should show the animal to a veterinarian.

The duration of pregnancy is influenced by various factors: nutrition and maintenance of the animal, health status, stress, individual characteristics. The number of developing fetuses also influences how long a cat carries kittens in her stomach. If there are 1 - 2 kittens in the womb, then the mother carries them longer than in the case of a large litter.

2 - 3 days before giving birth, the cat becomes restless and looks for a quiet and secluded place. By this time, the owner should prepare a cozy and clean nest for the future mother in a quiet, darkened room. Shortly before labor begins, the animal loses its appetite. When you press on the nipples, drops of colostrum appear. A characteristic sign of approaching labor is a decrease in body temperature to 37 C.

If the animal is healthy, then the birth takes place independently and the owner can only observe and, if necessary, unobtrusively provide assistance to the pet. In case of complications during labor, you should immediately seek help from a veterinarian.

Feeding a pregnant cat

It is necessary to feed a pregnant cat, as well as a non-pregnant one, with high-quality food. Nutrition should be balanced and individually selected, taking into account breed characteristics, body weight and the presence of chronic diseases before pregnancy.

Your cat should be at a normal weight for her breed and age. Its deficiency or excess can negatively affect its reproductive function.

Food for pregnant cats may already be prepared. Some owners who prefer to feed their pets natural food should additionally enrich the cat’s diet during the period of gestation with special vitamin complexes and mineral supplements.

In the initial stages of a pet’s pregnancy, it is recommended not to change eating habits, as this can provoke developmental disorders in future babies. It is not advisable to give vitamins to pregnant cats from weeks 1 to 3, especially if the animal is on a high-quality diet.

As the fruits develop, at about 4-5 weeks of gestation, the animal’s appetite increases and the fruits increase in size. Feed manufacturers, as well as veterinarians and breeders, recommend not increasing the daily dosage of food, as this can lead to risks of obesity.

But the increased need for proteins and lipids must be satisfied. Dairy products are great for these purposes, but not fish. During this period, cats on dry food transition well to food intended for kittens and lactating cats. This will help you avoid stress later after the babies are born.

You need to properly care for a pregnant cat. Overfeeding a pet should not be allowed, as increased body weight leads to obesity and complications during the birth process. Your pet should always have access to food and clean drinking water.

Before the expected pregnancy begins, the animal must also be well-groomed and in a normal weight category. This allows you to avoid quite serious changes in the body of developing fetuses.

When choosing special food for a cat during pregnancy, the owner should pay attention to such features as the brand of food and the presence of taurine in the composition. In addition, the composition of super-premium feed should be as balanced as possible in terms of beneficial lipids and proteins

The total magnesium content in the feed should be about 0.08%.

Color of kittens and their number in subsequent litters

Owners of domestic cats often wonder why cats give birth to different kittens. To understand this issue, you need to have an understanding of the characteristics of ovulation in cats and the basics of feline genetics. Experienced breeders, using special color calculators and tables, can plan the desired color of future kittens, selecting potential parents as carriers of a particular gene.

Most often, cubs of the same color are born in one litter. This is typical for purebred cats during planned mating under the control of the owner. If the cat is of a different color in the next heat, then the kittens will be different in color from the previous litter.

If the cat mated chaotically, then there is a high probability that males of different colors took part in fertilization. Since ovulation in cats occurs at the time of sexual intercourse, the birth of kittens in the same litter of different colors from different fathers is common.

Search for a place

A place for a woman in labor can be arranged on a bed or using a tray. The most suitable option is a cardboard box, the bottom of which is covered with paper. Qualities that a birthing place must meet:

• The box should be closed, but large in size, since the animal will live there with the kittens for several months.
• For convenience, one wall of the box is cut off. This will allow the cat to freely enter the bed area without jumping over the barrier each time.
• The prepared house is installed in a quiet place, closed from prying eyes. This could be the bathroom, a corner of the room behind the sofa, or a closet.

If the cat ignored the chosen place and hid in the closet, this is an indicator that it lacks silence and feels unprotected.

Methods for determining the number of fruits

A responsible breeder, as a rule, wants to know exactly the number of future babies a pet will have. How to determine how many kittens a cat will have? Some experts claim that the number of future babies can be determined by the number of nipples the mother has. However, this method is not accurate. Feeling the cat's abdomen to determine the number of fetuses is an unsafe technique for the pet's health and is not informative. Even a veterinary specialist needs to be very highly qualified in order to accurately determine the number of future offspring in this way and not harm the babies and mother. Palpation is most often carried out on 20 - 21 days after mating or on the 49 - 55th day. These dates are due to the fact that after the 21st day the uterus is filled with amniotic fluid, making diagnosis much more difficult.

The safest and most informative method for the expectant mother is an ultrasound examination of the uterus. An ultrasound can be performed to determine the number of kittens starting from the 21st day after mating. By this period, you can determine the number of fetuses in the womb and listen to their heartbeat.

A responsible breeder is rightly puzzled by the question of how to find out how many kittens a cat will have. This allows him to competently approach issues of assistance during childbirth and solve the problem of selling young animals in advance. Knowledge of the causes and factors influencing multiple pregnancy, knowledge in the field of genetics will help you choose the right stud cat for your pet, follow the rules of feeding and keeping the animal during pregnancy.

Signs of unfinished labor

Before taking action, you need to check whether the cat can give birth to not all kittens at once. The situation can be found out by observing it. Signs that not all kittens have been born include the following:

mom lies on her side without changing position

There is little or no interest in children; the cat does not want to eat or drink; when observing an animal, you can periodically see how attempts occur; if you carefully palpate the tummy, you can feel a strong muscle tone; the mother has had a fever for a long time; Blood discharge is noticed from the uterus, during which an unpleasant odor can be felt.

Important! If there is an assumption that not all babies were born, it is necessary to call a specialist as soon as possible and send the cat to a veterinary clinic. In such cases, an ultrasound examination is performed to clarify the clinical picture and measures are taken according to the situation.

Bleeding may mean labor is not over

How many kittens can a cat give birth to?

Cats reach sexual maturity at approximately 8-9 months. And before the age of 1 year, she is already able to become pregnant and bear offspring. However, experienced breeders understand that this is quite early, and consider such births to be risk factors, since the body is still too young.

Note to the owner! It is not recommended to breed domestic cats under 1 year of age, although in the case of backyard dwellers we cannot in any way influence this fact. It is advisable to wait until the cat is one and a half years old, when the cat’s body is stronger and ready to bear healthy offspring.

What determines the number of kittens?

The number of kittens in a litter is influenced by many factors:

• Firstly, this is the age of the cat. Firstborns most often give birth to a maximum of three cubs. Fertility also decreases in fairly mature females. After the age of seven, a cat gives birth to fewer babies than before the age of 6-7 years. The peak of large families (from 4 to 12 babies per litter) occurs between the ages of 3 and 6 years.
• Heredity also affects possible fertility. If the cat's ancestral ancestors produced numerous offspring, then most likely your animal will be fertile.
• The reason for the small number of kittens is often a hormonal imbalance, which leads to a decrease in the synthesis of eggs ready for fertilization.
• Breed also matters. A trend has been noticed: a purebred cat gives birth to fewer kittens than a mongrel yard animal, and rarely gives birth to more than 5 babies at a time.
• Obesity or, conversely, exhaustion reduces the possible number of offspring.
• A lot also depends on nutrition. If a cat does not get enough protein, taurine, vitamins and minerals, she may develop nutritional infertility (infertility). A meager diet leads to the fact that the animal’s defensive reaction to the lack of certain substances is the fertilization of a small number of eggs.
• Chronic inflammatory processes of the reproductive system negatively affect the cat's reproductive function and can cause the cat to become infertile.
• Another reason for the birth of a minimum number of kittens can be long-term and indiscriminate use of hormonal drugs, such as Counter-Sex, Sex-Barrier. Hormone-based contraceptives seriously undermine the reproductive function of the animal, causing hormonal stress in the body. And this, in turn, leads to the birth of a maximum of 1-2 babies in the litter.

The male also contributes to the number of offspring. During sexual intercourse, a temperamental cat releases a larger number of eggs for fertilization. In addition, the quality of sperm also matters.

Thus, the number of kittens in a litter is influenced by a variety of factors, and it is not always possible to take them into account.

Individual characteristics of a cat

The number of kittens born to a cat depends on a number of factors:

• Age of the woman in labor. From a physiological point of view, it is better when a cat gives birth to kittens for the first time at the age of 1–2 years. Her body is already fully formed and she is able to bear offspring. Young cats usually have a smaller litter size (2-3 kittens) than more mature females. Occasionally, with good care, a young cat can give birth to up to six viable kittens. Adult cats usually give birth to 6–8 babies.
• Breeds. Outbred cats are more fertile than purebred cats.
• Heredity. In cats, hereditary dependence in terms of reproduction is clearly visible. The more fertile the female relatives (mother, etc.), the higher the likelihood of inheriting their reproductive qualities and producing more offspring per lamb.
• Duration of pregnancy. The longer the gestation period lasts, the fewer kittens will be born in the litter.
• Lifestyle.
• Living conditions.
• Food quality.

An important role in how many kittens a cat will have is played by the physiological characteristics of the partner:

• Age. Excessively young or, conversely, old cats have less “productivity”.
• Number and frequency of matings. With increased sexual activity of a cat, the quality of its sperm deteriorates.
• Health. It is important that the future dad does not have diseases of the genitourinary system, as well as infectious diseases.
• Sexuality. In cats, ovulation occurs during mating and the number of eggs produced is influenced by the intensity of the partner’s “courtship.” Interestingly, felines are characterized by superfecundation, i.e. fertilization of eggs with sperm from different individuals. Thus, one litter may contain kittens from different fathers.

Is it possible to increase the number of kittens in a litter?

This question is usually of interest to breeders involved in breeding kittens for sale, since the expected profit depends on the number of offspring, as well as covering the financial resources spent on mating (treatment, testing, raising, feeding).

Depending on the regalia of the inseminating cat, the cost of mating can reach up to 10 thousand rubles. At the same time, owners of males are often not interested in the number of offspring. They receive money for mating, and the rest does not concern them. This position is fundamentally wrong: both parties should be interested in a good offspring. Before you give money for mating, ask:

• how often the cat is used;
• is he eating well? whether he has diseases of the genitourinary system;
• how many kittens are usually born from a male cat;
• Does the cat suffer from cryptorchidism?

To increase fertility, experts recommend injecting cats with the following drugs before breeding:

• Ovariovit: a homeopathic medicine that restores ovarian function, regulates the sexual cycle and increases fertility.
• Gamavit: anti-stress, immunostimulating drug, supports the vitality of the body, has a positive effect on eggs.
• Vitamin E: has a beneficial effect on the reproductive system, prevents infertility.

There is a special scheme designed for 10 days, which is often used for cats:

• Ovarium: 0.5 cc is administered subcutaneously once a day.
• Ortilin: 1 tablet twice a day.
• Ovariovit: 1 tablet 2 times a day.
• Vitamin E: 1 capsule twice a day.
• Gamavit: 1 cube per day subcutaneously.
• Catozal: 1 cube per day subcutaneously.

Treatment worsens signs of estrus and increases hormone levels. At the same time, the cat becomes more active and attractive to the inseminator.

Attention! Please consult your veterinarian before using this regimen for your cat.

You can also stimulate a cat by administering B vitamins to it for 2-3 days before mating, which have a positive effect on the activity and endurance of the male’s body.

How often can you give birth?

A sensitive issue that worries good owners concerns how often a cat can give birth. There are several opinions that differ significantly.

Note! When making a decision, it is worth considering the cat's health characteristics.

Veterinarians and professional breeders of certain breeds give different recommendations regarding the frequency of lambing.

Fans adhere to completely different norms, dosing cats with hormonal pills at the time of estrus to stop the process.

How often can a cat give birth:

How to determine the number of future kittens?

Some breeders claim that the exact number of future cubs is indicated by the number of milk nipples in the mother. However, the reliability of this method has not been proven.

Veterinarians sometimes palpate a cat’s belly to determine the size of the litter, but this technique cannot be called safe for the health of the animal. Palpation is most often carried out at 20 - 21 days or 49 - 55 days after mating. The timing is due to the fact that after the 21st day the uterus fills with amniotic fluid, which complicates diagnosis.

Ultrasound examination of the uterus is considered the safest and most informative method. An ultrasound can be performed to determine the number of future kittens starting from the 21st day after mating. By this period of pregnancy, you can determine the number of babies in the mother’s womb and listen to their heartbeat.

A serious and responsible breeder is always puzzled by the question of the number of kittens in a cat’s litter. This information allows him to competently approach the birth process and resolve the issue of selling young animals in advance. Understanding the causes and factors influencing a cat’s fertility and knowledge in the field of genetics will allow you to choose the right inseminator for your mustachioed pet and follow the rules of feeding and keeping her during pregnancy.