How To Tell If Cat Mating Was Successful

Once your cat gets pregnant after a successful mating, she will show some obvious physical and behavioral signs.

One of the most apparent signs of successful cat mating is the nonoccurrence of the heat cycle.

But sometimes, it’s difficult to know if the heat cycle has already stopped.

It’s also challenging to detect whether your cat is still menstruating or if they are still going through heat cycles.

How to tell if cat mating was successful

Pregnancy in felines usually lasts for two months, but it may extend even to 72 days.

A cat shows pregnancy signs at around two to three weeks post-mating.

So, let’s understand some vital signs which show successful mating among cats.

10 Ways To Tell If Cat Mating Was Successful

1. A Swollen Abdomen

Even your vet might be unable to tell if your cat is pregnant until the 26th or the 35th day from when she gets pregnant.

Your vet can perform an ultrasound to detect the pregnancy or diagnose the abdomen by touching the uterus.

You will know if your cat is pregnant if you can feel the string of pearls in the uterus.

The abdomen will also take the burro shape.

After 20 days of pregnancy, you should be able to feel small fetuses when your cat is relaxed.

But do not press its belly too firmly as it may hurt her or may accidentally cause an unwanted abortion.

2. Motherly Behaviour

One of the successful mating signs in cats is showing maternal behavior.

For example, she is rubbing herself around you and becoming more affectionate.

3. Increased Appetite

Increased appetite in your cat might be another signal of successful mating in cats.

Feed your cat about 25 percent more than her usual diet during her nine-week pregnancy until the kittens start weaning.

Provide her with enough nutritious food to fill her calorie requirement.

4. The Nipples of Your Cat Turns Pink

Cat mating is successful if you notice the most striking feature of a pregnant cat: the linking of nipples.

You will notice enlarged pink nipples in your cat after 15 to 18 days of successful mating, as the fetuses start growing over the next 63 days.

She will start gaining weight, and her milk glands will get filled with milk as the day of birth comes closer.

However, enlarged nipples are also a sign of being in heat.

So, it’s essential to check other signs as well.

5. Morning Sickness

Your cat might refuse to eat anything or start vomiting after a successful mating, which is typical for pregnant cats.

However, if vomiting continues, you should see your vet as it may be due to other underlying issues/diseases.

You can also observe temperature fluctuations in her armpits.

Generally, there is a drop in temperature when your cat is already pregnant.

However, it should be a normal temperature change.

In case of continuous drops or an increase in temperature, visit your vet immediately.

6. Nesting Behavior

Hormones change in your cat when she gets pregnant.

Your cat may start to display a nesting behavior where she finds a hidden and comfortable place to give birth to her kittens in privacy.

In the wild, she would choose a wet and hidden site to ensure the survival of her kittens.

In addition, she might select several nesting sites if a threat occurs at the original nesting site.

You might notice the nesting behavior in the last two weeks of her pregnancy.

She often chooses a quiet, safe, dark place to pop her kittens.

7. Will Gain Weight

After the mating is successful, there will be a noticeable weight gain in your cat, around 2 to 4 pounds.

This weight gain has to be from the abdomen and should not be due to general weight gain.

8. Heat Cycle Stops

The most noticeable feature that confirms a cat’s successful mating is the ceasing of the heat cycle.

Cats commonly undergo a heat cycle within 10 to 14 days.

If the heat cycle does not continue as usual, then it is time to see your vet.

Your cat may start licking its genitals when the heating season has passed.

When marking with their urine stops abruptly, it might also indicate pregnancy.

9. Change In Habits

After successful mating, you may notice your cat sleeping more than usual and trying to be more affectionate toward you.

She will seek your attention more often, so you must give her all the attention.

Your cat may also have less energy and a reduced desire to move around.

She may be rolling around the floor and being highly vocal.

You can notice occasional mood swings too.

10. Diagnosis

The best and most reliable method is to diagnose your cat if you are still unsure about the signs and whether your cat is pregnant.

You can do it in various ways.

Using ultrasound, your vet may be able to tell you how many kittens your cat is probably going to have.

But you cannot say with certainty about the number of kittens.

Ultrasound is possible only after 16 days post-mating.

X-ray is yet another method to confirm your cat’s pregnancy.

With an x-ray, a vet may be able to indicate the number of kittens your cat might have but without absolute certainty.

Don’t worry about the radiation because experts say that the amount of radiation from an x-ray is considerably small.

So, an x-ray is assumed to be safe for your cat and her developing kittens.

But suppose you don’t want to get your cat to undergo an x-ray procedure.

In that case, palpation is the method your vet can use to indicate whether your cat is pregnant.

Palpation works by gently pressing the cat’s abdomen and feeling the fetus.

Your vet may do this 20 days post-mating.

Was My Cat Mating Successful? – Final Words

Finally, ensure that your cat receives all the care and calories it needs.

A healthy pregnancy depends on these things.

Set her food and water and make her litter box always ready.

Encourage her to sleep well.

Always consult your vet before administering any vaccine or medication to her.

Cats chose us; we don’t own them, so show your care!

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