Cats will show behavioral changes when they reach the age of puberty. You should keep a few essential things in mind before breeding your cat to avoid any inconvenience in the future.
Best time for mating:
Most cats become sexually mature at the age of six months. It is not recommended to mate your cat with a male during the first heat because the body is still in the growing phase and is not fully mature. Cats are induced ovulators, meaning eggs are only released from the ovary after copulation. That means the breeding season in cats lasts almost year-round.
Signs of pregnancy:
After two weeks of successful mating, you may observe the following changes if she has become pregnant:
1. Her nipples may grow bigger and become red or pinkish due to increased blood supply. Vomiting may or may not be seen.
2. As the foetuses start to grow inside the womb, the abdomen gets bigger gradually (Other diseases causing abdominal enlargement may mimic this). There will be an increase in weight. She may gain 1-2 kg depending on the number of babies she carries.
3. Abdominal ultrasound is a useful diagnostic tool for pregnancy confirmation. The heart rate of the foetuses can be measured as part of the assessment of the foetal viability.
4. Abdominal radiography can be performed in late pregnancy to count the number of foetuses.
5. The cat may look for a hiding place for queening. Before parturition, her body temperature may drop and her abdomen may start contracting.
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