Cat Pregnancy Calculator: Estimate Your Cat’s Due Date for Kittens

If you believe your cat is pregnant, our Cat Pregnancy Calculator can help estimate when to expect kittens. Knowing the approximate due date is important for providing appropriate prenatal care and preparing for the arrival of the new litter.

How the Cat Pregnancy Calculator Works

The average gestation period for cats is typically around 63 to 65 days from conception. However, it can range from 58 to 71 days. Since the exact date of conception can be uncertain if mating wasn’t directly observed or occurred over several days, this calculator provides an estimate.

• Input: The date of the first observed mating. If breeding occurred over a few days, using the earliest date will give an earlier due date estimate.
• Output: An estimated due date. Kittens can arrive a few days before or after this date.

Important: This calculator is for estimation purposes only. A veterinarian can confirm pregnancy through palpation (around 17-25 days), ultrasound (as early as 15-20 days to detect heartbeats), or X-rays (after 40-45 days to see skeletons and get an idea of litter size). Regular veterinary care is vital during your cat’s pregnancy. Cornell University’s Feline Health Center offers reliable information on cat pregnancy.

Understanding Feline Gestation

A cat’s pregnancy is a fascinating journey:

• Weeks 1-2: Fertilization and implantation. Few outward signs.
• Weeks 3-4: Nipples may become pinker and more prominent (“pinking up”). Some cats may experience morning sickness. Embryos are developing rapidly.
• Weeks 5-6: Abdomen starts to enlarge. Appetite typically increases.
• Weeks 7-9: Kittens are well-developed. Movement may be felt. The queen will start looking for a nesting spot. Prepare a queening box.

Knowing the estimated due date helps you monitor your cat for signs of labor and ensure a safe, quiet environment for birthing. After the kittens arrive, you might find our cat vaccination schedule helpful for their future care.

While this calculator focuses on the beginning of life, our other age calculators explore different stages of an animal’s journey.