www.drweil.com. The youngest a kitty typically goes into heat is around 3 1/2 months old, according to the December 2001 issue of "Compendium." A cat can get it if it eats prey, raw, or undercooked meat with the parasite, or comes into contact with contaminated soil. The first sign of pregnancy occurs at about three weeks into her pregnancy, when her nipples will get … Others raise concern allowing the pregnant cat to have kittens contributes to the pet overpopulation problem. The only way a kitten can become pregnant is if she has gone into estrus, commonly referred to as heat. 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. We recommend switching her back to kitten food, from the start of her pregnancy until after her kittens have been weaned. This way you won't have to worry about a surprise litter of kittens from your own little kitten. The infection doesn’t make cats sick so you wouldn’t know if your pet was carrying it. Cats don't have abortions - they get spayed while pregnant. Cat feces can contain the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis. After ten minutes of intense labour a kitten or a fluid-filled bubble is visible in the birth canal, but not progressing. The kitten is usually passed eventually. Some people cannot bear the thought of killing fetal kittens. There is a small chance that contact with their litter pan could lead to an infection that would threaten your pregnancy. Pregnant moms can also pass the bacteria to the baby. All rights reserved. If you prepare any meat for yourself or your cat, make sure it is thoroughly cooked. While she's in estrus, it's important to keep your little one indoors at all times because a brief outing can result in a pregnancy. The answer is – cats can get pregnant again immediately. Several factors keep the chance of such transmission low. Kittens as young as 4 months can breed and get pregnant any time of the year - no reason to be waiting to spay them. If you get infected with toxoplasmosis in the first trimester, the risk that your baby will also be infected is about 15 percent. She will have no psychological effect if she is spayed while pregnant. Sixty-three days is full-term so this otherwise tiny cat was getting pretty close to popping. Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by a parasite that can infect your cat. Feed your cat only canned or dry food, not undercooked meat. While this danger is real, it is remote. Only during each period of estrus does your little one become capable of reproducing. Although most cats deliver their litter without any assistance, problems can occasionally arise which require the attention of a Vet. ... Get Pregnancy & Parenting Tips In Your Inbox It’s safest to offer your cat commercial cat food (not raw) for the duration of your pregnancy. Late pregnancy and premonitory signs of parturition. This means that your little 4-month-old kitten could give birth to kittens at only 6 months of age. Full term pregnancy in cats is usually between 63 and 65 days during which time energy requirements increase to 1.5 times normal. It is also possible for the mother to experience something called interrupted labor in cats. Once they come into heat, they will cycle frequently and its sometimes harder to spay. They mate from instinct. Only cats who ingest tissue cysts get infected. If you have an indoor cat, the likelihood for infection is smaller. Yes, and this is why people are frightened that petting their cats while pregnant might endanger a gestating fetus. Purina: At What Age Can My Cat Become Pregnant? 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. In general, a kitten that is two months old should weigh approximately two pounds, as long as it has had proper nutrition and care. The parasite that causes the infection is carried by many cats and passed in their stool. Like dogs, you have to watch out for bites, scratches, and ticks. Copyright 2021 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. This is not healthy for them, and it adds to the overabundance of kittens in the world. Prevent your furbaby from having unwanted kittens by spaying her early in life. 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. Should Pregnant Cats Be Spayed? 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. Cat litter and cat poo can contain a parasite that causes toxoplasmosis infection. Avoid stray cats, especially kittens. Kitties mature young, typically between 4 and 6 months old. Cat poo can carry a parasite that causes an infection called toxoplasmosis. In general, a kitten that is two months old should weigh approximately two pounds, as long as it has had proper nutrition and care. Flatulence is defined as excess gas in a cat’s stomach or intestines. ©Copyright 2021 Healthy Lifestyle Brands, LLC. If thye are inside cats, get them spayed now - do not wait till they are older. Cats pick up the parasite from uncooked meat, and small animals they may kill and eat outdoors. 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. Infection can follow handling of cat litter because it can be found in the stool of cats, so pregnant women are advised not to handle cat litter. Posteriorly presented, or tail-first, kittens occur quite frequently, so much so that this could almost be considered a normal presentation, often causing no delay in birth. I have a 1year old male cat and now own an 18week old female 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. Kittens as young as four months old can get pregnant, and can have up to 3 or 4 litters a year. She is capable of becoming pregnant during her first period of estrus. Don’t touch stray cats or kittens. (You can also pick up the parasite from unwashed fruits and vegetables.) Can Kittens That Are 4 Months Old Get Pregnant? It is generally safe to have a cat while you're pregnant, too. Pregnant women may assume they need to give their cats away because toxoplasmosis can cause birth defects in children. 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. Adults infected with toxoplasmosis rarely get sick. However, there’s very little outward change in the first weeks of the pregnancy, and the first sign owners may see is a ‘pinking’ (becoming pinker in colour) of the nipples, which also become more visible. If no one else is available, wear rubber gloves while changing the litter, and be sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and running water afterwards. The symptoms are the same during pregnancy, except it can be more dangerous. If you want to get your kitten spayed or neutered when it is two months old, then look for signs that it is that age. No. 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. You do not need to stay away from cats while you're pregnant. It just goes to show that cats can get pregnant even as young as four months of age, which is far too young. Her articles, short stories and reviews have appeared on City National Bank's website and on The Noseprint. If you get infected in the second trimester, your baby's risk is about 30 percent, and it's 60 percent in the third trimester. After the female cat becomes pregnant, her body slowly changes over the next 63 days as the fetuses grow. Cat poo can carry a parasite that causes an infection called toxoplasmosis. In fact, you may have already been exposed to toxoplasmosis. : 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. The … Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. A mature kitty will begin to yowl loudly and may constantly rub up against you and the furniture in your home. If your kitty goes into heat, you'll have to wait until her cycle is finished before having her spayed because of the increased risk of bleeding during surgery that can occur, according to Catster. Two pounds is the weight that is required for your kitten to get desexing surgery. The Anti-Inflammatory Diet: 5 Steps To A Healthier Pantry, The Anti-Inflammatory Diet: How To Make Your Fridge Healthier. Cats can get it from raw or undercooked meat. She needs enough nutrition for her own body to grow, as well as feeding her kittens, so make sure she gets enough quality food. Kitties allowed to roam freely outdoors are exposed to tom cats and females in estrus, increasing their chances of early maturation. A blood test can tell you whether you’ve been exposed to toxoplasmosis in the past. The cat’s behaviour alters little until the final week of the pregnancy. You'll also find that she will mark the inside of your home with her urine. Keep outdoor sandboxes covered. Precautions for Pregnant Women and Cats Cats have to eat infected prey to become carriers of the disease, so one way to protect yourself is to keep your cat indoors. 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. 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. The cat gestation period can vary from as short as 61 days to as long as 72 days. The first pregnancy is always a bit risky, moreso if the cat is still growing herself. Any third party offering or advertising on this website does not constitute an endorsement by Andrew Weil, M.D. If you are pregnant, you have probably heard that you should not change cat litter during your pregnancy. When you get them spayed. On Friday I saw a gorgeous grey kitten named Goldie (go figure). is it possible for her to get pregnant and could this be dangerous? Spay FIRST! Cats can give birth successfully at 8 months old. I suspect this is an old wives tale. You may be wondering why. About 85% of pregnant women in the United States are at risk for toxoplasmosis infection. If you’ve been infected in the past, you’re probably immune and cannot pass the infection on to your baby. However, there’s very little outward change in the first weeks of the pregnancy, and the first sign owners may see is a ‘pinking’ (becoming pinker in colour) of the nipples, which also become more visible. Cats do not get pregnant because they want to have a family. 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. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), humans are more likely to contract toxoplasmosis from eating undercooked meat or from gardening than they are from contact with a cat. While this danger is real, it is remote. 2300 cats and kittens are euthanized in shelters in the US every day because foster or forever homes cannot be found for them. A female cat can get pregnant when they are as young as 4 months old, unless they have been spayed to prevent that. The reason cats find themselves in the crosshairs when it comes to toxoplasmosis and pregnancy is cat litter. My husband says that we should get rid of our two cats because they could endanger my pregnancy. If possible, have the litter changed daily. I have been wanting a kitten for awhile now and my husband finally said OK.But I was reading my pregnancy book,I am almost 25 weeks pregnant,and it said not to get new cats or kittens while pregnant.I don't plan on changing the litterbox or anything like that,and I plan on taking the kitten to the vet for it's shots and checkup.Is it really not safe to get a new kitten? There's no problem with getting a kitten while pregnant. Getting toxoplasmosis while pregnant could lead to a spontaneous abortion or miscarriage or can cause blindness, hearing loss, or mental retardation in your baby. You do not need to stay away from cats while you're pregnant. Don’t handle or adopt stray cats, and don’t bring a new cat that might have been an outdoor cat into your house. 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. Your cat (queen) often won’t show any physical symptoms of pregnancy until she is a few weeks into her term. After the female cat becomes pregnant, her body slowly changes over the next 63 days as the fetuses grow. She'll start making attempts to escape your home so she can find a mate outside. During her heat cycles, your kitty's periods of estrus last anywhere from three to 16 days at a time, with breaks in between of three to 14 days, according to the Louisiana State University College of Veterinary Medicine. If the cat has not given birth to another kitten after an hour and begins to show symptoms of distress, you will need to take them to a veterinarian. (It is best to disinfect the pan with boiling water for five minutes before refilling it with litter.) The infection, toxoplasmosis, can be passed to humans via cat feces. They will NOT miss the kittens if they don't have them. But with cats, you also have to be careful about dealing with cat poop. To prevent unwanted litters of any breed, it's best to have your furry companion spayed prior to 3 months old. 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. Domestic cats usually reach sexual maturity (puberty) between five to 12 months, at which time they experience their first estrus. I have noticed all the signs of her in heat and have them separated until it is over. Two pounds is the weight that is required for your kitten to get desexing surgery. Her Heat Cycles Stop. She does this to advertise her heat status to available male kitties in the area. Wear gloves when gardening and during contact with soil or sand because it might be contaminated with cat feces that contain Toxoplasma. Your kitty only ovulates when she mates with a male tom cat, which can happen within minutes. Getting toxoplasmosis while pregnant could lead to a spontaneous abortion or miscarriage or can cause blindness, hearing loss, or mental retardation in your baby. 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). Always seek veterinary advice if any of the following occur: Twenty minutes of intense labour without a kitten being delivered. It's important to understand the disease. She's indoors, so the risk is much lower and my husband does the litter box. 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