| Normal Gestation in a Cat |
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In cats, a normal gestation period lasts between 63 and 65 days.
Gestation Diagnosis
There are no blood or urine tests available to diagnose gestation in a female cat. The earliest diagnosis can be done about 3 to 4 weeks after mating. At that moment, the veterinarian feels the abdomen and may detect that the uterus is dilated.
Physical Changes
Few physical changes occur during the first 4 or 5 weeks of gestation. After the 5th week, your cat will gain weight and her abdomen will grow. The mammary glands will develop around the 5th week but will not be visible until the 7th week of gestation. Milk flow will occur two or three days prior to parturition.
Behaviour Changes
Your cat may urinate or defecate in the house since the kittens she is carrying are heavy and put pressure on her bladder and colon. During the last few weeks, your cat may be uncomfortable and agitated; she may seek to be alone.
Exercice
Your cat can live a normal life until the 6th of 7th week. Afterward, we recommend that you keep her indoors to avoid her giving birth outside.
Nutrition
A balanced diet is required to maintain the health of both the mother and her kittens. It is practically impossible to overfeed a gestating cat since she requires two to three times her normal ration toward the end of her gestation period.
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