Cat Pregnancy Calculator – When Is My Cat Due?
Enter the mating date for an estimated kittening date, the normal range, and what to expect each week.
Call your vet straight away if
- She strains hard for 20–30 minutes with no kitten
- Over two hours pass between kittens
- There is green, foul or heavy bloody discharge
- She is collapsed, weak or clearly in pain
Estimated kittening date
26 November 2026
Normal range: 22 November 2026 to 3 December 2026 (61–72 days)
Day 0 of about 65 – week 1
Week by week
- Week 1 (from 22 September 2026): Fertilisation. No visible signs.
- Week 2 (from 29 September 2026): Embryos implant in the uterus. She may seem a little sleepier.
- Week 3 (from 6 October 2026): "Pinking up" – nipples become larger and rosier. Ultrasound can confirm from about day 21.
- Week 4 (from 13 October 2026): Appetite increases. Begin moving her onto a kitten or growth diet.
- Week 5 (from 20 October 2026): Tummy starts to round out. Avoid picking her up around the abdomen.
- Week 6 (from 27 October 2026): Noticeable weight gain. Offer small, frequent meals.
- Week 7 (from 3 November 2026): Kittens can be felt moving. Set up a quiet, warm nesting box.
- Week 8 (from 10 November 2026): She may become restless and start nesting. X-ray can count kittens.
- Week 9 (from 17 November 2026): Kittening is close. Keep her indoors and keep your vet's number handy.
How long is a cat pregnant?
A cat's pregnancy lasts about 65 days – a little over nine weeks – with healthy litters arriving anywhere between 61 and 72 days after mating. Cats are induced ovulators, meaning ovulation is triggered by mating itself, so dating tends to be more reliable in cats than in dogs. A cat can also mate with several toms during one season, which is why kittens in a single litter can look completely different from one another.
Worked example
If your cat mated on 1 April, add 65 days for an estimated due date of 5 June, with a realistic window from 1 June (61 days) to 12 June (72 days). Kittens born before day 61 are premature and need veterinary help; if nothing has happened by day 72, ring your vet.
Getting ready for kittening
- Provide a large cardboard box lined with clean towels in a quiet, warm, dark corner.
- Keep her indoors from around week eight so she doesn't give birth outside.
- Have clean towels, a heat pad and your vet's out-of-hours number ready.
- Leave her be – most cats prefer privacy and cope brilliantly without help.
Feeding a pregnant and nursing cat
From around week four, move her onto a kitten or growth food, which is more energy-dense and higher in protein. By late pregnancy she may need around a quarter to a half more than usual, and while nursing a big litter she can need two to three times her normal intake. Free-feeding a nursing queen is entirely reasonable. Keep fresh water within easy reach of the nest.
When to call the vet
- Strong straining for 20–30 minutes with no kitten.
- More than two hours between kittens when more are expected.
- Foul-smelling, green or heavy bloody discharge.
- Labour starting before day 61, or not started by day 72.
- She is weak, collapsed, feverish or clearly in pain.
- A kitten is visibly stuck – ring the vet rather than pulling.
Afterwards
Kittens should nurse within an hour or two of birth and gain weight every day – weigh them daily on kitchen scales and tell your vet about any kitten that stops gaining. Cats can come back into season and get pregnant again while still feeding kittens, so speak to your vet about neutering well before the kittens are weaned.
Frequently asked questions
How long are cats pregnant?
About 65 days, with a normal range of roughly 61 to 72 days from mating.
How can I tell if my cat is pregnant?
Nipples become pink and enlarged ("pinking up") from around week three, appetite increases and the tummy rounds out by week five. A vet can confirm by ultrasound from about day 21.
How many kittens will she have?
Four to six is typical, though first litters are often smaller. An X-ray from around day 45 gives a reliable count.
What should a pregnant cat eat?
Switch to a kitten or growth food from around week four and let her eat to appetite by the end of pregnancy – she may need up to fifty per cent more food while feeding kittens.
What are the signs labour is starting?
Restlessness, nesting, licking her back end, refusing food and purring or calling. Most cats give birth quietly and manage perfectly well alone.
When should I call the vet during kittening?
If she strains hard for 20–30 minutes with no kitten, more than two hours pass between kittens, there is bloody or foul discharge, or she seems exhausted, distressed or collapsed.
When can she be neutered afterwards?
Usually once the kittens are weaned at around eight weeks, but cats can get pregnant again while still nursing – keep her indoors and ask your vet to book neutering early.
Estimates only – not a substitute for advice from your vet.
Last reviewed: 22 September 2026