Free tool
How long are cats pregnant?
Usually 63 to 65 days, with a normal range of 60 to 67 days from mating. Enter the date and we will show the due date and what happens in the weeks ahead.
Estimated due date
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If your cat goes past the end of the normal range, or labor drags on without progress, contact your veterinarian.
Cat pregnancy week by week
Cats ovulate in response to mating, so a due date counted from mating is more accurate for cats than for dogs. In the first weeks the pregnancy is almost invisible. Around week 3 the nipples turn pink, in the second half of pregnancy the belly clearly rounds out, and in the last week the cat starts looking for a quiet place to give birth.
Frequently asked questions
How long are cats pregnant?
Cat pregnancy usually lasts 63 to 65 days, and a range of about 60 to 67 days from mating is considered normal. In a study of cats from a breeding colony the average was about 67 days, so a few days past day 65 is not necessarily a worry if the cat is well.
How can I tell if my cat is pregnant?
The first visible sign is usually pink, enlarged nipples ("pinking up") at around day 16 to 20. A veterinarian can feel the fetuses at about day 17, and an ultrasound shows the kittens' heartbeats in week 3 to 4.
How many kittens does a cat have?
Most often 3 to 5, although litters of a single kitten or larger litters happen. A veterinarian can count the kittens most accurately on an X-ray taken from about week 6 of pregnancy.
What should I feed a pregnant cat?
A pregnant cat's energy needs rise gradually throughout pregnancy, up to 2 to 3 times RER. Most owners switch her to kitten food. Agree the details with your veterinarian.
Sources
- 1VCA Animal Hospitals – Pregnancy and Labor in Catsvcahospitals.com
- 2PetMD – Cat Pregnancy: Signs, Stages and Care (Lovejoy DVM, 2024)petmd.com
- 3Merck Veterinary Manual – Whelping and Queening in Dogs and Cats (Davidson, reviewed Jun 2025)merckvetmanual.com
- 4Root Kustritz MV et al. Estrous length, pregnancy rate, gestation and parturition lengths, litter size, and juvenile mortality in the domestic cat. JAAHA 1995;31(5):429-433experts.umn.edu
- 5Pet Nutrition Alliance – Calculating Calories Based on Pet Needs (MER/RER factors, PDF)petnutritionalliance.org
Results are estimates and do not replace advice from a veterinarian.
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