Cat pregnancy calculator: due date, signs and week-by-week guide

How long is cat pregnancy?

Unlike people, cats are "induced ovulators": they release eggs when they mate, so the mating date is a reliable starting point. If your cat was with an unneutered male for several days, use the first day; the real due date may be a few days later.

Cat pregnancy week by week

Week	Days	What's happening
Week 1	0–7	Mating and fertilisation. No visible signs. Heat behaviour stops within a few days.
Week 2	8–14	Embryos implant in the womb at about days 10–14.
Week 3	15–21	Ultrasound can detect pregnancy from about day 16. "Pinking up" begins at days 18–21.
Week 4	22–28	A vet may feel kittens as small lumps. Some cats have mild morning sickness.
Week 5	29–35	Belly becomes visibly rounder. Appetite increases; start feeding kitten food.
Week 6	36–42	Rapid kitten growth. An X-ray can count kittens from about day 42.
Week 7	43–49	Kittens can be felt and seen moving. Belly is large and firm.
Week 8	50–56	She grooms her belly more and may start looking for a nest.
Week 9	57–63+	Nesting, restlessness, milk may appear. Labour usually follows within days.

Switch the calculator to "Week by week" to see these milestones as dates for your own cat.

Early signs of cat pregnancy

• No more heat cycles: calling, rolling and restlessness stop. See our guide to a cat in heat.
• Pinking up: nipples become pinker, larger and more noticeable at about 3 weeks.
• Bigger appetite: she may eat noticeably more from week 4 or 5.
• Weight gain: a pregnant cat usually gains 1 to 2 kg overall.
• Morning sickness: occasional vomiting in weeks 3 to 4, though not all cats show this.
• Behaviour changes: more affectionate, more sleepy, or sometimes less tolerant of other pets.

How can you tell if a cat is pregnant?

Cat pregnancy test options

Test	From about	What it shows
Ultrasound scan	Day 16–25	Confirms pregnancy and kittens' heartbeats
Palpation by a vet	Day 21–28	Kittens felt as small, evenly spaced lumps
Relaxin blood test	Day 20–25	Detects a pregnancy hormone produced by the placenta
X-ray	Day 42+	Counts kittens and checks their size before birth

Human pregnancy tests from the chemist detect a human hormone (hCG), so they won't give a meaningful result for a cat. Don't press on your cat's belly to feel for kittens yourself, as this can harm the pregnancy.

False pregnancy in cats

A false or phantom pregnancy can happen when a cat ovulates after mating (often with a neutered or infertile male) but doesn't conceive. Signs are usually mild: a little weight gain, slightly enlarged nipples, and sometimes nesting. It typically lasts about 30 to 45 days, after which she comes back into heat. False pregnancy is much rarer and milder in cats than in dogs and rarely needs treatment, but a vet scan can tell a real pregnancy from a false one.

Caring for a pregnant cat

Signs of labour in cats

1. Stage 1 (6–12 hours, can be up to 36): restlessness, nesting, panting, purring, licking her vulva and refusing food. Her temperature may drop slightly about 24 hours before birth.
2. Stage 2 (birth): visible straining. Each kitten usually arrives within 10 to 60 minutes, often in its sac, which the mother tears and licks.
3. Stage 3: the placenta follows each kitten. The mother may eat it, which is normal.

Some cats pause for up to 24 hours between kittens (called interrupted labour), resting and feeding the first kittens before delivering the rest. This can be normal if she's calm and not straining.

When to call the vet during cat pregnancy or birth

• Strong straining for 20 to 30 minutes without a kitten.
• More than 1 hour between kittens while she's still straining.
• A kitten stuck in the birth canal for more than a few minutes.
• Green, black or bloody discharge before the first kitten.
• No labour by day 70, or your cat seems weak, collapses or is in obvious pain.

After the kittens arrive

Leave the mother and kittens somewhere quiet and warm, with food, water and a litter tray nearby. Kittens should feed within the first few hours and gain weight daily. Mother cats can come back into heat within a few weeks of giving birth, so plan neutering once the kittens are weaned. Many UK charities offer low-cost or free cat neutering. Kittens can go to new homes at 8 to 9 weeks at the earliest, with 12 to 13 weeks recommended for pedigrees.

Unplanned cat pregnancy

Cats can get pregnant from about 4 months old, and an unneutered female cat can have up to 3 litters a year. Most UK vets and charities now recommend neutering at 4 months, before the first season. If your young cat is already pregnant, talk to your vet about your options and about rehoming the kittens responsibly through a rescue. If you're caring for a pregnant stray, see how to know if a cat is a stray and contact a local rescue; many will help with pregnant cats or arrange foster care.