Cat Birthing Guide
For cat breeders, regardless of experience level, the process of breeding is a complex, time-consuming, and often emotionally taxing task that requires an incredible amount of detail-oriented planning, care, and attention.
One of the most crucial periods in this process is the queening period – the time when a female cat, or queen, gives birth to her litter.
How Long is a Cat Pregnancy?
Understanding the stages of the cat’s pregnancy and what to expect can help reduce the risks associated with queening and ensure the kittens’ safe arrival. Typically, a cat’s gestation period lasts for around 63 to 65 days, but it can vary between 61 to 72 days.
What is Queening?
Let’s first understand cat birthing – also known as queening – itself. Queening is the term used to describe the period during which a female cat is pregnant (gestation), goes into labour, and gives birth. This process is a delicate one and can be stressful for both the queen and her human caretaker.
Stages of Cat Pregnancy
Weeks 1-2:
In the first two weeks of pregnancy, not much changes can be seen. A small enlargement in nipples can be noted, sometimes they start turning pink after 2 weeks of pregnancy, a phenomenon called ‘pinking up’. The placenta is formed (a bridge between mother and child). An ultrasound can be conducted between 2-3 weeks after mating to confirm the pregnancy.
Weeks 3-4:
Queen will start gaining weight depending on litter size. Some mood swings along with behavioural changes can be noted due to hormones in the 3rd and 4th week of pregnancy. Abdomen starts to increase in size as well as their nipples, while the fur around her nipples becomes thin. Heart, nervous system, vertebral column along with blood vessels and other vital organs of kittens are formed during the third week of pregnancy.
Ultrasonography can be a good diagnostic technique for checking the viability of kittens by judging their heartbeats. An experienced vet also can diagnose kittens by abdominal palpation as the size of kittens are around 3-4 cm at the end of the fourth week.
Weeks 5-6:
At the 5th week, kittens start floating in the uterus and when their sizes grow they can be palpated after 6 weeks of pregnancy. Nipples and abdominal size of the queen becomes noticeable and enlarged. Queen will start resting more and more and her sleep increases as the pregnancy advances.
Week 7+:
Abdomen can be seen as pear-shaped in the last weeks of pregnancy. X-rays can be performed to check the number of kittens, their position and orientation, and size of head. These are necessary to check the possibility of dystocia during the process of queening.
Fetal movements can also be observed during the last weeks of pregnancy. Milk can start to ooze from the nipples. This can be a yellow-tinged colour and is normal.
Blood-tinged or crystal-clear discharge can be seen from the vulva before 12 to 24 hours of delivery
Signs of Labour
Recognising the signs of labour is key to providing timely assistance during queening. Labour occurs in three distinct stages:
- Stage One: The queen’s body begins preparing for birth. You might observe her becoming more anxious, pacing, or grooming excessively, especially around her genital area. Appetite loss is common, and nesting behaviour will intensify.
- Stage Two: Contractions start, and the queen begins pushing. This stage typically lasts several hours as the kittens are born one by one. Ensure the environment is calm and free of disturbances during this period.
- Stage Three: After the birth of each kitten, the placenta is expelled. The queen may consume the placentas, which is normal. Each kitten is usually born 30-60 minutes apart.
By monitoring these stages and signs, you can step in if complications arise, ensuring the safety of the queen and her kittens.
How to Prepare for Queening
Preparing your home and the queen for queening is critical to ensuring a smooth birthing process. Proper planning reduces stress for both you and the queen.
- Create a Queening Box: Set up a comfortable, enclosed space where the queen feels safe. Line the area with soft, clean bedding. Ensure it’s warm and quiet, free from noise and disturbances. Queens prefer secluded spaces for queening.
- Monitor Health: Regular vet visits during pregnancy will help you catch any potential complications early. The vet can also offer guidance on supplements and nutritional needs during pregnancy.
- Stock Supplies: Make sure you have all necessary cat-birthing supplies ready ahead of time. Have towels, gloves, and an emergency kit on hand in case of any unexpected complications during birth.
- Become an RPBA Member: As a member, you receive tailored guidance on how to prepare for queening. This includes:
- Access to Queening Preparation Guides: Detailed step-by-step resources to help you create the ideal environment for your queen during the birthing process.
- Expert Breeder Support: Receive advice from experienced breeders and professionals on managing queening and what to expect during labour.
- Litter Planning: Benefit from tools such as free advertising on Australia’s #1 pet marketplace, breeder tools for promoting your litters, waitlist management, and building your own custom breeder website.
- Litter Management: Manage your litter efficiently with RPBA’s resources, ensuring each stage is handled professionally.
Joining RPBA provides invaluable resources to make the queening process smooth and stress-free.
Being fully prepared ahead of time ensures a smoother queening process and allows you to act quickly in case any issues arise during labor.
Queening Checklist for Cat Breeders
Breeding is not a process that should be taken lightly. A queening checklist can help streamline the process, ensuring that no details are overlooked. This not only increases the chances of a successful queening process but also makes the task more manageable for the breeder.
Ultimately, a queening checklist is an invaluable tool in the cat breeding process. Not only does it serve to guide the breeder and ensure the health and safety of the queen and her kittens, but it also provides a structure to an otherwise complex and sometimes unpredictable process.
Essential Supplies for a Smooth Queening Process
A good queening checklist will give you nearly everything you need when it comes to the following major necessities:
- Queening Box
- Queening Kit
- Important Documents
- Feeding Kit
- Emergency Kit
Breeders who are registered with RPBA gain access to our breeder templates, including our Ultimate Queening Supply Checklist, here is a preview of our checklist:
If you are interested in becoming a responsible cat breeder, you can apply to become an RPBA breeder here.
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