Can Cats Get Pregnant While Nursing
It is no myth that cats have amazing fertility. After youve finished reading this article, Im sure youll be stunned how easy it is for cats to get pregnant, how frequently they can give birth, and how large a number of kittens they can give birth to. It truly is mindblowing!
The reproductive cycle of female cats works in such a way that they are able to go into heat almost as soon as they have given birth. This means that they are perfectly capable of mating and conceiving during their nursing period.
Below, you will not only read about the details of cat pregnancy and nursing but also about cats reproductive cycle in general including their peculiar mating habits, whether or not they have periods, what they do when they are in heat, and even some information on spaying and why it can be necessary.
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What Are The Advantages Of Neutering Your Cat
Neutering your cat surely has its advantages, not only for the owner but also for the cat. A neutered tomcat is less prone to contract feline cancer, or any such fatal diseases. It also decreases the possibility of the birth of unwanted kittens. Neutering reduces the risk protracting a range of testicular diseases and disorders.
How To Tell If A Cat Is Neutered
This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 90% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 400,617 times.
Since there is so much cat overpopulation in the world, it’s the job of a responsible cat owner to neuter, or castrate, their male cat. Many male cat owners don’t neuter their cats because they think that since their cat won’t have babies, it doesn’t matter. However, your cat can mate with female cats in the area and contribute to the overpopulation.XTrustworthy SourceThe Humane Society of the United StatesNational organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfareGo to source If you’ve adopted an adult male cat and you’re not sure whether he’s neutered, you can learn to check and see if your cat is neutered.
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I’ve Heard Cats Who Haven’t Been Done Are Noisy And Messy
Undesirable behaviours is one of the reasons owners choose to get their cats neutered. For example, unneutered male cats may spray urine in the house which can be smelly. Don’t panic though, this is just a temporary situation and we have advice!
If you have an unneutered male kitten in your house and there are no females around, urine spraying can be prevented by minimising any stressful events, increasing positive experiences like playing as well as making their environment more interesting and varied. Cat trees, cardboard boxes, tunnels and even shelves can be made interesting by hiding small toys or treats in and on. Games will drive your kitten’s energy towards positive behaviours.
Cats are crepuscular animals which means they’re more active in the evening and early morning, so evening play sessions and extra enrichment before bedtime may help to keep your kitten occupied.
Their Nipples Look Different
Like human bodies, a cats body has to also prepare itself for a baby. That means that your cats nipples will look differently if shes pregnant. Theyll probably look more puffy and engorged, and may be a darker color. This is fairly easy to notice if you have a cat with light color fur. If you have a cat with a thick coat of dark hair, it may not be as easy to take note of.
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The Fat Lazy Cat Myth
Neutering refers to the castration of either gender, but is commonly used to refer to male animals “spaying” is the word used for females. It removes the hormones responsible for the cat’s libido and ability to procreate. The myth that neutered cats are lazier and fatter than un-neutered cats is simply not true. Neutered cats may appear to be lazier than un-neutered cats because they no longer have the need to run around town chasing promiscuous pussycats. So, compared to intact cats, who instinctively roam the streets, the neutered cat may appear lazier. Weight has to do with calorie intake and energy output. Gluttonous neutered and un-neutered cats alike will be fat.
Can A Neutered Cat Live With An Unneutered Cat
Usually yes. Neutered males tend to be really easy-going. It helps if you can put them together when theyre half-grown . It seems to be a time when they form friendships.
My husband and I have four cats, all indoors: Ace, a nine-year-old neutered male weve had about four years Skittles, a year-and-a-half old neutered male Pepsi, a year-and-a-half old female and Ozzy, a nine-month-old neutered male. We kept him apart from Pepsi and got him neutered as soon as we could, but apparently not soon enough, cause last night Pepsi had five kittens. My concern is that Ace, who is pretty territorial with cats that wonder around outside the house even though hes a completely indoor cat and has been neutered for yearsâI think since he was a kittenâwill kill the kittens if he gets a chance. My husband Shawn saw him sort of bite Pepsis neck several times while she was pregnant, and he said that thats what toms do to kittens. Im really not too worried about Skittles, cause hes a total sweetheart and completely non-aggressive, but I am concerned about Ace because of how he has acted in the past. Also Im concerned about Ozzy because hes still a kitten and sometimes acts like a complete fart he loves to chase Pepsi until they get so tired of it they hiss at him and smack him. So when is it safe to let my guys out?
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Dark Patches Of Fur In Siamese And Related Breeds
The skin temperature is important in determining the hair colour of some cats . This means that when a patch of hair is shaved the new hair may grow back a darker colour. However, this is only temporary and, as further hair growth occurs, the dark hairs are replaced by normal lighter coloured hairs.
What Kind Of Cat Is Good For A Mouse
For a mousing cat, I suggest you look for a mixed breed from the SPCA or pound. A feisty young male or female kitty with a look of adventure in their eyes! Our SPCA, neutered male kitty, Elliott, was a great mouse and sadly, bird catcher too. Make sure they are up to date on their rabies vacination too. Maya
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Keep Unneutered Cats And Kittens Home
We know many cats really enjoy and benefit from access to the outdoors and the freedom to roam – but until your cat has been neutered, it’s really important to keep them inside to prevent unwanted pregnancies. This includes kittens as they can get pregnant from four months old .
If your female cat does manage to escape outside and you think there’s a chance she could have been mated, call your vet as soon as possible, it’s not too late to act.
As well as keeping your cat indoors, you’ll also need to ensure that other cats in the neighbour can’t get in. Remember to lock cat flaps, shut doors and only keep windows slightly open so cats can’t get in or out. Cats are quick and agile so you’ll need to be on the ball to prevent escapes! If you have children in the house, it’s important to explain to them why your cat needs to stay in and get them on board with closing doors etc.
Do All Unfixed Male Cats Spray
Cats can leave messages about potential mating encounters by spraying. This is why so many cats that spray are unneutered males, although spraying can be found among fixed males and spayed and whole females too. If you live in a home with more than one cat, spraying can occur if there is conflict between the cats.
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Eliminating The Drive To Mate Reduces The Risk Of Contracting Deadly Diseases
This is because neutered male cats are noticeably less aggressive. The combination of testosterone coursing through unneutered males and nearby females being in heat results in a lot of cat fights. Deadly diseases such as FeLV and feline distemper are most likely contracted after being bitten or scratched during said fights.
What To Expect When Your Cat Is Nursing
After the queen gives birth, the period of nursing starts. The new-born kittens depend solely on their mothers milk for about 4-8 weeks long. You dont need to control the length of this period because mama cats milk production will cease naturally.
While nursing, mama cat should continue eating kitten food. You may switch back to her usual pre-pregnancy food/portions after the kittens have completely weaned. Make sure you do it gradually over a couple of days just like you did the first time you switched her food.
The mother cat should lose the excess weight she has gained during her pregnancy by the end of nursing. If she appears to keep the weight on, take her to your vet for an examination. If she had contact with unneutered sexually mature male cats during her nursing period, she may be pregnant again.
While transitioning to solid food, kittens will imitate their mother when eating. Therefore you may need to soften her dry food so that the kittens will also have a smooth transition to solid dry food.
The nursing period doesnt require a whole lot from you because the mama cat takes care of everything necessary. Just make sure that they have a safe, relatively isolated, and comfortable spot in your home during this period.
After the kittens have weaned, take them to your vet because they will need to get their standard immunization vaccinations starting from 6-8 weeks to about 16 weeks of age.
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Reasons For Neutering Male Cats
- Control of nuisance. Unneutered male cats are likely to stray over a large area, will mark their territory with a very pungent spray and are much more likely to fight with attendant noise nuisance.
- Health issues. Fighting males are much more likely to spread diseases such as FIV and FeLV to other cats. They are also likely to suffer from fight injuries such as abscesses. Because they wander over a large area they are also at greater risk of suffering road traffic accidents.
- Pet issues. Unneutered male cats will wander from home and may not return. They may also spray inside the home and may be aggressive to their owners. Therefore it is desirable to neuter kittens early enough to ensure that the above problems are prevented. Most people do not want to live with an unneutered male cat.
- Population control. Obviously, male cats do not have kittens themselves and it only takes one male in an area to make lots of female cats pregnant, so neutering a female cat makes a great deal more difference to limiting numbers, but it all helps!
Neither My Boy Cat Or Girl Cat Have Been Done The’re Brother And Sister They Won’t Mate Will They
Two kittens who are brother and sister will mate together – it sounds strange but once a cat gets the urge to mate she will not be fussy about who she does it with. If your cats are around 4 months of age or older it means your girl is at risk of getting pregnant. Be sure to let your vet know that both of your cats are not neutered when you call to discuss neutering options.
If your cats are currently going outside, you’ll need to keep them indoors until you can have them neutered and keep them separate from each other too. If you’re healthy and not self-isolating, you may want to consider asking a friend or relative who is also healthy and not self-isolating to foster one of your kittens until they can be neutered. If this is an option it’s important that you follow our advice on how to do this safely. If fostering isn’t possible then you’ll need to keep them apart within your house or flat. Make sure they each have access to all the things they need and check out our advice on keeping both cats happy and healthy.
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Science Of Roaming Cats
The image of the housecat out on the prowl has probably been with us since humans first domesticated cats. Lets face it, no matter how much our housecats love us and rely on the care we provide, some still prefer to spend at least some time outdoors while others are content to observe the world from the comfort of a window seat.
Here well take a look at the roaming behavior of domestic cats and offer some tips on keeping your wandering feline safe.
Wanderers vs. Happy Homebodies
Why do some cats roam, while others seem content to stay where life is cozy? It seems to depend on their drives and instincts. Cats are natural hunters, and even the most pampered housecat has the genetic imprint of a lion lurking within. A well-fed domestic cat will sometimes bring home a mouse or a bird it has caught, simply because cats are predators by nature.
Another factor is where and how a cat was raised. Cats that grew up feral or as outdoor cats may be more street savvy and actually enjoy exploring their domain. This is not without reason: By prowling its territory, a cat can gain valuable sensory information about new food sources, other cats in the area , and potential threats or changes in the immediate environment.
When Cats Roam, How Far Do They Go?
How Do Cats Find Their Way Home?
How Can You Keep Your Wayward Feline Safe?
If you have a cat that likes to roam, there are several things you can do to help keep it safe:
What Is The Behavior Of A Neutered Male Cat
A neutered cat will show no interest in mating and will be less territorial. Male cats can display behavior problems such as aggressiveness, excessive meowing, scratching or chewing. A neutered cat will be less likely to develop these behavior problems. However, proper behavior training is still needed.
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What Are The Health Effects Of Spaying Or Neutering A Cat
Of course, while spaying or neutering procedures are routine and considered safe, risk cannot be totally eliminated from every surgical or medical procedure. For example, cats who have been spayed or neutered do tend to gain weight if their diets are not adjusted accordingly. Neutered male cats are also at increased risk for developing urinary blockages.
The benefits of neutering or spaying almost always outweigh the risks. However, you should always ask your vet which choices are best for your pet.
Will Neutering Make My Cat Fat
No, neutering your cat wont make them fat. However, afterwards, your cat may not need as many calories to maintain a healthy weight. Make sure your cat is fed an appropriate amount of a complete diet thats right for their life stage so they stay slim and healthy. In fact, you can buy special food for neutered cats, which have the correct balance of nutrients and calories for them. If youre concerned your cat is putting on weight after neutering, talk to your vet or vet nurse about the best ways to keep them an ideal body condition score.
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Which Is The Most Intelligent Breed Of Cat
Some cat breeds are reputed to be smarter than others. But all cats, if deprived the mental stimulation they need, will make their own busy work. Interactive cat toys are a good way to give a cat a brain workout and keep them out of mischief. This scratcher cat toy can keep your smart kitty busy even when youre not home!
Neutering Reduces The Risk Of Disease
Cats who mate with other cats are at a higher risk of a range of diseases that are spread through bites from infected cats. These diseases include feline AIDs and feline leukaemia, two incurable viruses. Cats can bite each other when they are mating or when they are fighting over territory, which is a common problem with unneutered male cats they become highly territorial and more likely to fight with other cats.
In addition to preventing easily contractible diseases, neutering your cats helps to reduce their cancer risk. In female cats, neutering them can reduce their risk of cervical cancer and completely removes the risk of ovarian cancer. The risk of mammary cancer is also reduced. In male cats, neutering reduces their risk of prostate cancer and removes their risk of testicular cancer entirely.
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