When and why a cat can become pregnant after giving birth. What to do if a cat goes on a spree immediately after giving birth Can a nursing cat get pregnant?

Cat pregnancy and the subsequent birth are complex and not easy for the furry pet, as well as for its owner. Of course, as soon as cute fluffy kittens are born, a person dreams of a break - he intends to take a break from the mating rush of the cat and her quirks when she was pregnant. But it’s too early to relax, because a cat can become pregnant very soon after giving birth, breastfeeding squeaking blind kittens. How this can happen will be discussed below.

Can a cat get pregnant during lactation?

Can a nursing cat get pregnant again? Certainly! On average, a cat begins to go into heat 1.5-2 months after the birth of kittens. And some favorites are ready for mating even earlier: 1.5-2 weeks after lambing. Consequently, pregnancy can occur in a cat that has recently given birth to babies. By the way, some owners unknowingly claim that during the period of feeding kittens, their mother is not able to become pregnant again. This opinion is based on the fact that the hormone prolactin, produced during pregnancy and lactation, prevents the conception of new offspring by blocking the hormones responsible for ovulation. This statement is true for breastfeeding women, but not for cats. The fact is that ovulation in pets occurs at the moment of mating, as soon as interest in carnal pleasures appears during the estrus that appears after lambing. Thus, the question of whether a cat can become pregnant while nursing kittens can be answered in the affirmative.

New pregnancy immediately after childbirth

In human medicine, there is an opinion that breastfeeding mothers have no chance of becoming pregnant. This hypothesis is due to the fact that prolactin, produced by the hypothalamus, is able to block excessive estrogen production, stopping the growth and further development of follicles. In this case, ovulation does not occur.

But neither in the case of humans, nor especially in the animal world, does the hypothesis work. This is especially true for cats, because they ovulate not before coitus, but during intercourse. The onset of heat in a cat can occur as soon as the animal begins to feel better. Domestic cats can reproduce 4-6 weeks after the previous birth. This applies to cats that have normal hormonal levels. If there is a disruption in the production of hormones, the cat begins to walk 5-7 days after birth.

conclusions

People who own cats should be aware that after giving birth the cat may go into heat. If you follow the deadlines for the period intended for rehabilitation, this will not only help preserve the health of the feline representative, but also wait for full-fledged offspring in the form of healthy kittens.

Thus, the conclusion is this: a nursing cat, and the owners need to draw certain conclusions: allow pregnancy or prevent it.

When a fluffy, uncastrated young beauty lives in the house, sooner or later the owner is puzzled by the question of what time the cat can become pregnant. Knowledge in the field of physiology, understanding of the characteristics of sexual behavior, and the nuances of reproduction will help you competently approach the problem of keeping and breeding a pet.

The cat family is distinguished by its early maturity and fertility. This is also true for pets. A number of factors will influence when a cat can become pregnant for the first time:

• individual characteristics,

The average cat is in her first heat. and with it the opportunity to become pregnant occurs at 6 - 8 months. Later, large breeds and those with long coats mature. In representatives of such breeds as Maine Coon, bobtail, Siberian, Norwegian forest cat, the first heat occurs at 12 - 14 months.

Large breeds of cats mature later, their first heat occurs at 12-14 months

From the moment of the first heat, the pet is physiologically ready to become a mother and retains this ability for almost the entire adulthood. There is no such thing as menopause in the cat family. The reproductive period begins with the first heat and can last until death. Owners of furry pets should be aware of this feature in order to understand that the answer to the question of how many months a cat can become pregnant is quite simple - immediately after puberty.

The task of the animal owner is first and foremost to preserve the health of the pet. That is why experienced breeders and veterinary specialists believe that the first estrus should under no circumstances result in the animal becoming pregnant. A young body must get stronger and take shape. Pregnancy, childbirth and feeding offspring require a lot of effort.

Breeding experts and veterinarians recommend skipping the first 2 - 3 heats, and only after that organize mating. For this purpose, an experienced (untied) cat is selected.

After giving birth, a cat usually comes into heat within 1.5 - 2 months. Often signs of heat are observed earlier - 2 weeks after lambing. However, you should plan your next pregnancy no earlier than 5–6 months. Even if the previous lambing and birth passed without complications, the pet must regain strength. Carrying kittens

, labor activity is associated with large losses of nutrients and minerals. The mother loses a lot of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamins, giving these and other components to the formation of the offspring. In addition, the female should regain her weight and normalize her hormonal levels.

In this regard, responsible and competent breeders recommend planning the birth of a purebred pet no more than once every 1 - 1.5 years. This interval between births will allow you to restore strength and improve your health for the next pregnancy.

It is no coincidence that the cat family is considered one of the most prolific. This fully applies to home beauties. Over the course of a year, a sexually mature cat can give birth 4 to 5 times. This frequency is typical for animals with free access to the street. In the absence of control over sexual behavior, pregnancy can occur even in a nursing cat. This leads to exhaustion, weight loss, curvature of the spine, and the development of inflammatory diseases of the reproductive organs.

If the owner approaches breeding issues responsibly, he will not allow her to become pregnant during every heat. There should be a rehabilitation period of at least 4 to 5 months between births.

Many owners, interested in breeding issues, want to know when cats stop giving birth. The peculiarities of the sexual behavior of domestic beauties allow them to continue their feline lineage throughout their lives, until very old age. Older pets usually give birth to fewer kittens than young animals. Nevertheless, pregnancy also occurs in an older cat by cat standards.

The owner must take a responsible approach to breeding issues and not allow mating of animals older than 7 years. Once your pet reaches this age, she should be sterilized. This point of view is shared not only by veterinary specialists, but also by experienced and competent breeders. No self-respecting breeder will produce offspring from a cat older than 6-7 years.

Contraceptive injection

The above hormonal drugs are available in various forms: tablets, drops, suspensions. The principle of their action is based on suppressing sexual desire and preventing ovulation. Veterinary experts do not recommend the uncontrolled use of oral contraceptives in cats. Owners should be aware that these drugs often cause the development of a dangerous disease for the animal - pyometra.

There is also a contraceptive in the form of an injection - “Covinan”. This hormonal drug eliminates the animal's estrus for about six months. A special feature of the drug is its use before symptoms of estrus are detected. The injection is performed at a veterinary institution according to a specific scheme. Like all hormonal contraceptives, Covinan also has contraindications and increases the risk of developing pathologies of the reproductive system.

A loving and responsible owner of a furry beauty should know not only what time cats can give birth, but also many other issues related to breeding. It is important to remember that the animal needs a rehabilitation period between births, and that cats over 7 years old are not recommended to have offspring. A competent attitude of the owner to breeding issues will ensure the health and long happy life of the animal.

What is estrus

Estrus in a cat (estrus, estrous cycle, heat) is part of the sexual cycle, informing that the animal is ready to have offspring and is looking for a mate.

Changes occur in the body under the influence of hormones that put the cat into a state of “sexual heat.” The animal is looking for a male, while demonstrating characteristic behavior - meowing, rubbing against walls, crawling on the floor. In everyday life they say “the cat has gone on a spree.”

The sexual activity of females is seasonal and depends on the length of daylight hours. During the dark season (late autumn – winter), the cat’s body intensively produces the hormone melatonin. It suppresses the “power” of estrogen, the hormone that is responsible for sexual behavior. In the middle zone, daylight hours increase in March. Therefore, from the beginning of spring, less melatonin is synthesized in the cat’s body, and cats begin to have regular estrus.

Why is contact between a nursing cat and a cat harmful?

Let's say a cat owner has the opportunity to adopt kittens. So why is it worth stopping a cat’s attempts to mate with males while she is still feeding her babies? There are many reasons for this:

1. Pregnancy, childbirth and feeding kittens is a difficult time for an animal. A lot of effort is expended, most of the vitamins and minerals obtained from food are spent on the growth of embryos, and hormonal changes occur in the mother cat. Too frequent births simply wear out the pet’s body. Often, cats that give birth frequently have problems with bones and reproductive organs. Animals that become pregnant again after giving birth to kittens usually cannot boast of longevity. Veterinarians believe that the optimal number of births for an adult healthy pet is once or maximum twice a year. Frequent pregnancies are a real stress for the reproductive system and the entire body of the animal;
2. In fact, the offspring abandoned by a mother cat who has gone on a spree have to be fed by the owner himself with a milk replacer from a pipette or syringe. And this is quite tedious, since it is difficult to feed a small kitten. Yes, and it’s costly financially. Even if the pet does not completely stop feeding its young, its lactation will still be reduced;
3. A nursing cat can become pregnant within a couple of weeks after giving birth, when the mucous membrane of her genital organs is still susceptible to infection;
4. A nursing mother cat should eat well and gain strength after giving birth. But if the pet begins to go into heat, her appetite will be reduced or disappear altogether, which will negatively affect the condition of the body. As a result, both the adult animal, the recently born kittens, and the embryos from the next litter will suffer.

Stages of the reproductive cycle

During estrus, cats often like to roll around on the floor.

The reproductive cycle of cats, regardless of their breed, is divided into 4 stages:

1. Proestrus is the beginning of estrus, which lasts about 2-3 days. At this time, the female calls the cat by meowing and shows him affection. If there is no male in the apartment, then the cat turns its attention to the owner: purrs, walks next to the person.
2. Estrus is the main stage, the peak of arousal. Depending on the breed of your pet, estrus takes place within 4–12 days. If a cat does not have a male, then she rubs against any things. At the same time, the animal meows loudly and, when stroking, takes a pose of readiness for mating.
3. Interestrus is the period after intercourse, which lasts from 4 to 19 days. If conception has taken place, then the female does not allow the cat to approach her; the sexual hunt is over for her. If fertilization does not occur, then activity will be repeated in about two weeks.
4. Anestrus is the time between heats when the cat is in a calm state.

Natural food products

Products are chosen fresh, rich in proteins, calcium, carbohydrates and beneficial elements.

Among them:

• boiled lean meat: chicken, beef, rabbit, turkey, veal;
• vegetables: beets, pumpkin, cauliflower, carrots, zucchini;
• cottage cheese, curdled milk, natural yoghurts, biokefir;
• cereals: buckwheat, oatmeal, sprouted wheat grains.

To reduce the risk of developing constipation due to intestinal problems, add to the main diet:

• low-fat broths in which meat was cooked;
• warm milk (in small quantities);
• 3 – 4 drops of flaxseed, olive, sesame oil (added to food);
• boiled beets or puree from them;
• young shoots of oats, wheat, barley.

Approximate diet

In the second week of pregnancy, the cat’s appetite increases, therefore the amount of food is increased by 10% of the previous volume, from the second month - by 50%. In the last weeks before childbirth, appetite decreases, it is recommended to reduce portions, and the number of feedings is calculated based on the needs of the expectant mother. An adult animal needs 180-200 grams per day to be satisfied.

How to prevent pregnancy in a nursing cat

If the cat does not participate in breeding, and its offspring are not of particular financial interest to the owner, it is advisable to sterilize the animal. The best time for this is after 6 months - 1 year. Theoretically, it is possible to perform surgery on a nursing mother cat to prevent her from becoming pregnant again. If sterilization is undesirable, you can give your pet sedative medications based on medicinal herbs (such as “Cat Bayun”, “Fitex”). You also need to monitor your nursing cat, especially if she goes into heat soon after pregnancy. That is, it is necessary to exclude contacts between the female pet and cats.

You should not use alcohol tincture or valerian tablets as a natural sedative. This remedy for pets is a drug that puts them in a state of extreme excitement. That is, a cat who has started to heat, after a small amount of valerian solution or tablets, will have one goal - to quickly connect with the cat. The existing kittens will naturally go to the side.

Also, hormonal drugs that suppress sexual desire are also extremely undesirable for calming a nursing pet. Products of this type (“Sex barrier”, “Contrasex”, etc.) have a lot of contraindications, and they cannot be used by cats during lactation.

Do all cats show noticeable signs of heat?

Not every cat during heat shows signs of it. This is especially possible if there are several cats in the house and estrus has begun in a “subordinate”, timid female. The second option is that estrus occurs hidden in a cat that the owner had previously scolded and punished for “bad” behavior. During the hunting period, such animals try to hide, are not active, even lethargic.

There are females that will never show signs of hunting if there is no male nearby. Therefore, the owners of such “hidden” individuals cannot recognize the heat until a male is nearby.

What to do if a nursing cat becomes pregnant

If the tailed “lady” is still pregnant again, despite the fact that very young kittens are waiting for her at home, the owner has this simple choice:

1. Allow the cat to give birth to her next babies, and then bring her to the veterinary clinic for surgery to remove the ovaries or remove both the ovaries and the uterus;
2. Show the pregnant cat to a specialist and seek advice about surgical abortion (an incision will be made in the uterus through which the embryos will be removed). It is important to do this no later than 4-5 weeks of pregnancy;
3. Contact a veterinarian for abortion and sterilization of the pregnant pet (the babies will be removed along with the uterus and ovaries);
4. Consult your veterinarian about medical abortion using hormonal medications.

It is absolutely clear that all of the above methods can harm the cat: severe consequences after anesthesia, possible infection, gynecological diseases and the inability to become pregnant in the future. Therefore, it is advisable to prevent an unwanted pregnancy in a cat in advance by excluding its contact with cats and using sedatives. The most radical method against pregnancy is sterilization.

Special Considerations

If your veterinarian gives you the go-ahead to spay your cat after giving birth, you'll need to step in and help take care of her babies. Watch each furball during feeding to make sure they are all eating and drinking. They are still learning to feed themselves, and may need a bottle from time to time until the mother cat is healthy enough to nurse again, if she needs to nurse at all. Typically, by 5 to 6 weeks of age, kittens should be perfectly happy eating just moistened food.

Keeping and caring for a pregnant cat

Make sure that your pet jumps less: during pregnancy, the center of gravity shifts and she may fall unsuccessfully and be injured. During a dangerous jump, the offspring may also be harmed.

What to feed a pregnant cat

When focusing on industrial feed, choose packs labeled “holistic” or “super premium”.

The list of healthy natural foods includes:

• boiled beef or veal;
• broth, boiled pork or sea fish;
• boiled eggs (twice a week);
• dairy products less than 15% fat, including cottage cheese, yogurt, milk, cream, sour cream, yogurt (without additives);
• porridge made from rice, oatmeal and buckwheat;
• boiled or raw vegetables/fruits (cat’s choice);
• jellied meat and boiled cartilage.

For constipation, give butter, beets and fatty foods, removing them as soon as the stool improves.

Important!

To avoid complications during childbirth, give your cat a decoction of raspberry leaves (1 tablespoon per 0.25 liters of water). The broth is filtered and given a teaspoon per day.

Feeding rules:

• feed your pet 4-5 times a day;
• increase the daily diet by 1.5-2 times from the 2nd period of pregnancy;
• for meat (with natural feeding) allocate half the daily allowance;
• supplement natural food with vitamin and mineral supplements.

In the 2nd semester of pregnancy, add chopped nettle leaves to your food (after scalding with boiling water): this will enhance lactation.

Activity and rest of a pregnant cat

Cats in an interesting position tend to laze around more and move less. There is a certain reason for this - this way they minimize accidental injuries, but there is also a danger - becoming fat from physical inactivity, complicating the upcoming birth with excess weight. Encourage your cat to play and exercise more in the early stages of pregnancy by preventing her from jumping from great heights.

In the later stages, completely block access to high places and allow the expectant mother to rest as much as possible. Take care of the quality of her sleep by limiting the number of guests you have, not playing loud music, eliminating screams and noise. Create greenhouse conditions for her: equip a house or an insulated bed, placing them in the quietest corner of the apartment.

Important!

If your pet is used to walking in the yard, do not let her go there shortly before giving birth, otherwise the litter will be born in unsanitary conditions.

Vaccination of a cat during pregnancy

It is important to eliminate ticks, fleas and lice-eaters before conception, which not only annoy the animal, but also carry dangerous diseases that can cause miscarriage. Most preventive medications contain pesticides that penetrate the stomach and blood. Unfortunately, the placenta is not a barrier to poison that can stop the development of the fetus or cause deformity, miscarriage and congenital pathologies.

When does he start walking for the first time?

A cat begins to ask for a cat when its body is fully formed and its hormonal levels have normalized. It is impossible to say exactly at what point the female will complete puberty. The process is individual and depends on external and internal factors. In most cases, the first heat begins at the age of 6-8 months. In some breeds, a period of 1 year is normal. You need to know about such features in advance, since in other cases such a delay is a pathology and requires examination by a specialist and examination.

Factors influencing the onset of estrus:

• he is hormonal;
• nutrition;
• Lifestyle;
• the presence of a cat nearby;
• breed;
• coat color;
• season;
• conditions of detention;
• general health.

Sometimes the first estrus passes without any noticeable manifestations, so the owner simply does not notice it. In this case, they talk about erased estrus, which is typical for weakened, sick, hormonally disturbed animals. And also with a sedentary lifestyle and low temperament.

To speed up the process, it is recommended to do the following:

• Add a cat . From the smell of a male, sex hormones begin to be rapidly produced in the female’s body, and estrus occurs.
• Place another cat who is in estrus. Very often, animals that are in the same room leak at the same time. Again, the pheromones that float in the air are to blame, forcing the body to work in the right direction.
• Strengthen the body with vitamins and homeopathic remedies. The drugs are sold in veterinary pharmacies; the course is started after consultation with a specialist.

If owners are interested in getting healthy offspring, it is recommended to observe how estrus occurs, how long it lasts, and how the cat behaves. In the future, these observations will be useful for effective mating.