Caring for the Pregnant Persian cat

Persian cats usually have their first heat cycle between 5 and 10 months of age. On the average they will have 2 to 4 heat periods every year. The heat cycle will last 15 to 22 days.

If the Persian female is bred the heat cycle usually does not last more than 4 days. If the mating is not successful the heat cycle may continue for 7 to 10 days and then recur at 15 to 21 day intervals. There is a possibility the unmated Persian cat will cycle every 3 to 4 weeks indefinitely. To complicate matters even more cats can have a heat cycle 1 to 6 weeks after giving birth. She may be nursing one litter and pregnant with another.

What are the symptoms of a Persian cat heat cycle?

There is usually no obvious vaginal discharge or swelling of the genitals
She may carry her tail to one side
The Persian cat may keep her hindquarters elevated and make treading movements of the hind legs
She may be more affectionate
Spend a lot of time rolling on the floor
May be more restless than usual
About 1 to 2 days before the Persian cat accepts the male her voice may seem more piercing than usual

Once bred how long is a Persian cat s gestation period?

63 to 65 days

What are the physical changes?

There are few noticeable changes during the first 4 5 weeks
After the 5th week weight gain and enlargement of the abdomen usually becomes noticeable
During the 5th week the mammary glands may start to enlarge
A very noticeable enlargement of the mammary glands can be seen at the 7th week of pregnancy
The Persian cat will have milk present 1 to 2 days before delivery

How do you know when the Persian cat is about to deliver?

She may become extremely restless during the last weeks of pregnancy
She will probably seek out secluded areas
She may also soil the house instead of the litter box because the uterus presses the bladder or colon

Should the Persian cat have limited amounts of exercise during pregnancy?

These cats are usually fairly calm anyway and kept indoors
You should have a particular place prepared for her delivery

What should you feed the pregnant cat?

She will require 2 to 4 times as much food as normal
Probably a good idea to keep food out all the time for her

Are there any foods that absolutely should not be given?

Raw egg whites
Raw fish
Exclusive meat or fish diets
Your vet may even prescribe a special diet or supplements

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