When is your cat due?
Standard 64-day feline gestation, calculated from breeding date. Plus the cat-specific milestones, hepatic-lipidosis warnings, and post-whelp eclampsia signs that the dog version doesn't cover.
Due date = breeding date + 64 days (range 60–69) Queens are induced ovulators — breeding date is a tighter anchor for cats than for dogs.
Range: —
Milestones
| Day | Date | Milestone |
|---|
Pregnancy timeline (queen)
- Days 1–7: Fertilisation. Embryos move freely in the uterine horns. No external signs.
- Days 8–20: Implantation. "Pinking-up" of nipples by day 15–20 (visible reddening + slight enlargement, easier to spot than in dogs).
- Days 21–35: Embryos visible on ultrasound from day 22; fetal heartbeats audible day 22–24; confirmation/litter-size ultrasound day 25–35. Many queens experience mild morning-sickness-equivalent: brief appetite drop, occasional vomiting. Watch carefully: if appetite stays down > 12 hours in late pregnancy or lactation, that's a vet emergency (lipidosis develops within 48–72h of sustained anorexia).
- Days 36–45: Skeleton forms. Fetuses visible on X-ray from day 38–42. Queen's belly visibly rounds.
- Days 46–55: Rapid fetal growth. Switch to kitten-formula food (queen needs higher protein + DHA). Pre-whelping vet visit + X-ray kitten count.
- Days 56–64: Final preparation. Set up a quiet, warm, dark whelping box (queens hate disturbance during labour; many will move kittens overnight if unhappy with the location). Body temperature drop below 99 °F / 37 °C signals labour within 24 hours.
- Day 64+: Labour. Three stages: nesting/restlessness (1–2 hours, often shorter than dogs) → active delivery (kittens arrive every 10–60 min) → placental delivery + post-partum.
Sources: Johnston SD, Kustritz MVR, Olson PNS. Canine and Feline Theriogenology (Saunders, 2001). Verstegen J. "Feline pregnancy and parturition." Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract (1998). AAFP Feline Life Stage Guidelines (2021).
Frequently asked questions
How long is cat pregnancy?
Average feline gestation is 64 days (range 60–69 days) from breeding/conception. Queens are induced ovulators (ovulate in response to mating) so breeding date is a tighter anchor than for dogs — most pregnancies fall within a 5-day window of the 64-day estimate.
How accurate is the due date?
±3–5 days. Smaller breeds (Singapura, Devon Rex) tend to deliver earlier; Maine Coons + other large breeds often go later. Ultrasound day 22+ can refine the date by ageing the embryos.
When can I see kittens on ultrasound?
Fetal sacs visible from day 16–20 post-breeding. Heartbeats audible around day 22. Fetal skeleton visible on X-ray from day 38–42 — this is when you can count kittens (important for delivery planning, especially in large queens).
When does my cat need a vet visit?
Pre-breeding wellness check + FeLV/FIV test. Mid-pregnancy ultrasound (day 22–35). X-ray at day 42–55 to count kittens. Pre-whelping vet visit at day 55+. Any sign of trouble (lethargy, discharge, refusal to eat, vomiting beyond mild morning-sickness) is an immediate vet call.
My queen suddenly stopped eating — is that normal?
NO — this is the most dangerous symptom in a pregnant cat. Feline hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease) can develop within 48–72 hours of anorexia and is often fatal. Pregnant + nursing queens have higher caloric demands and lower margin for error. A queen in late pregnancy or lactation that refuses food for 12 hours needs a same-day vet call — the lower threshold is the defensible one for the reproductive cohort. (Non-reproductive cats can go 24h; the queen window is tighter.)