When I decided to bring in a new family member and brought home a cat, I didn’t fully realize that it could get pregnant and have little kitties. My daughter named her cat, Miming (a name coined from the word meowing) and spent most of her days playing with the newest baby. The cat seemed like a small kitten and I wasn’t really rushing to get her spayed. Now, we have 5 little kitties and the mother cat, which I learned is called a “queen” during its pregnancy.

Gestation period for cats lasts approximately 65 days, or 9 weeks. This period is the developmental stage for the kittens inside their mother’s small tummy. Most queens would have an average of 5 kittens, but they are known to give birth to a number, from one kitten to eight kittens per pregnancy.

I have learned that during the mating season, we can identify the two week period during which our female kitten is in heat. There is endless meowing that surely does not resemble the normal purring of a cat, and the exhibition of strange behavior and restlessness. Until the female cat finds a male companion that can satisfy this need, this will go on for weeks.

Once the female becomes pregnant, she retreats into a more subtle behavior and exhibits the characteristics of a pregnant woman: sensitive, affectionate and yes, demanding. At about two weeks after the conception, Miming became more demanding. She started eating more and demanding more food and milk. She also stopped her incessant meowing. At this time, her nipples would have settled into a deep pink in shade and have engorged. Her little tummy also was becoming bigger.

My daughter could not fully understand the change in Miming’s behavior, and I was also a bit in denial that she may be pregnant. So we decided to take her to the veterinarian about two weeks later. The diagnosis was made by feeling Miming’s abdomen and the doctor informed us that we can return two weeks later when Miming will be six weeks pregnant to have her X-ray taken.

By this time, we were already marking our calendars with Xs as to when the kittens will be due. According to the veterinarian, the cat’s gestation period will be anywhere from 65 to 69 days, though Miming gave birth at 63 Days exactly.

I noticed that a few days before Miming reached her 63rd day of pregnancy; she became restless and was constantly in search for the right and most comfortable position to relax. And Miming was sleeping more than the usual too. She wanted to be left alone most days and spent most of her time relaxing on the specially covered box we prepared for her.

The vet suggested it to us that we make a new box for Miming to sleep in. Instead of her usual sheets, we lined the box with newspapers to make it easier to clean up when her litter arrives. The Vet explained to me that we would know Miming is ready to give birth when she starts meowing constantly and using a rectal thermometer, we could see that her body temperature starts to drop.
Once a milky discharge is being excreted by her already engorged nipples, it is the clearest indication that she is ready to have her babies.

When I rushed to the basement, I found Miming with 5 little kitties. We thought she surely must be exhausted, so we brought her fresh water and kitten food- to avoid giving her an upset tummy. Also, kitten food has a high level of protein and vitamins that will enable Miming to get her energy back and care for her kittens properly.

I and my little daughter gave Miming the space and quiet she deserves as she takes care of her little ones and I set an appointment with the vet for my queen and her litter to receive the proper medical care that they need.

Among the first things we wanted to learn about were the illnesses that cats acquire. My daughter was quite vocal about her confusion whether cats also get colds and stomach aches just like she does. And she continued to ask on about the food that we could not give Miming. And yes, cats also get sick.

Here is a list of the most common signs that your little kitty may not be feeling too well:

1. Refusal to eat and loss of appetite – Most cats are always eager to eat; you would often hear them purring when they hear utensils and plates clinking or when they smell food cooking. Once there are changes in your cat’s pattern and environmental factors such as stress, outside home feeding, and change in surroundings are eliminated, there is a high probability that your cat is really sick.

2. Refusal to socialize, or in such bad humor – a cat has always been keen to keeping her place high on the ground. More often than not, a cat may be playful and sweet, but a cat will always be demanding. Once a cat retreats to its cot or to a quiet and dark place, without the usual playfulness and upbeat character, she is most likely suffering from an illness of some sort.

3. Unimpressive fur or “Bad Hair Day” – Cats are known to keep their furs at tip top shape. When you notice your cat having a “bad hair day” for consecutive days, and hair is erect and separated, the cat is trying to regulate its body temperature. Yes, cats can also have fevers.

4. Profuse vomiting – Hair balls tend to grow in their stomachs and vomiting is the cat’s way of eliminating the foreign object from their system. When they have eaten too much, or have eaten something that upsets their tummy, vomiting is the first aid that cats resort to.

5. Difficulty in urinating and Constipation – Cats have urinating and defecating patterns, and once these patterns are altered, cats usually are not feeling well. Changes in the behavior including the above mentioned, suggests an illness or your cat may be suffering from stress.

Different cats exhibit different symptoms when they are sick. However, feline illnesses are usually diagnosed once one or two of the above symptoms manifest.

Common illnesses of cats include ear infections and ear mites, which are marked by foul odor, inflammation of the ear cavities, itching and scratching, continuous head shaking, and swollen ear flaps; Ringworm and other skin allergies are manifested by continuous scratching and itching, head shaking, scaly and darkened skin and hair loss; and Flu and Respiratory Tract infections signaled by sneezing, nasal mucus discharge, loss of appetite and refusal to eat and excessive saliva.

Cats can also have degenerative illnesses like Fatty liver disease, which stemmed from over consumption of high cholesterol food and is characterized by vomiting, seizures, reduced muscle mass and depression; and Cancer, which is characterized by severe loss of appetite, weight loss, diarrhea, vomiting, frequent urination, depression and enlarged lymph nodes.

Our cats are similar to us human beings, they also suffer from bouts of upset stomachs, colds and flus, diarrhea, skin allergies and yes, even depression. Most cats will eventually feel better after a day of full rest and proper food and water intake.

Once you feel that your cat has remained unresponsive, has refused to eat or unable to urinate and have bowel movements for more than 24 hours, it is best to bring her to a veterinary clinic right away.

It is important to be observant of your cat’s daily routine and be mindful of her health so that these symptoms can easily be spotted and cat illnesses easily cured.