How long are cats pregnant?
Usually about 63 to 65 days. VCA Animal Hospitals says pregnancy ranges from 64 to 71 days and that most cats deliver between day 63 and day 65 after breeding. Cats ovulate in response to mating, and the Merck Veterinary Manual puts birth at 64–66 days after the hormone surge that mating triggers, so the mating date is a useful starting point. The calculator uses 65 days, with a normal range from day 63 to day 71.
Normal range = first mating + 63 days to last mating + 71 days
Example: mated on 1 January 2026
| Line | Date |
|---|---|
| Earliest normal date (day 63) | 5 March 2026 |
| Expected due date (day 65) | 7 March 2026 |
| Latest normal date (day 71) | 13 March 2026 |
| Have the nesting box ready by | 28 February 2026 |
Cat pregnancy timeline
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Day 0 | Mating. Write down the dates so the due date can be predicted (VCA). |
| About 3–4 weeks | A vet examination usually confirms the pregnancy (VCA). |
| Through pregnancy | VCA recommends a kitten (growth) diet, or an "all life stages" diet tested in pregnant cats, from pregnancy until a month after weaning. Food intake may rise by about 50% during pregnancy. |
| 24–48 hours before | Milk may appear in the mammary glands (VCA). |
| Last 24 hours | Rectal temperature often drops below 100°F (37.5°C). She may be nervous, groom a lot, pant, eat less and look for a quiet, hidden place, so have a nesting box ready (VCA). |
| Day 63–71 | Normal window for kittens to be born. |
When to call the vet
VCA Animal Hospitals advises calling your vet if:
- she has intense labour for 45–60 minutes without delivering a kitten;
- labour does not start again within a few hours after the first kittens;
- labour stops for 24 hours or more;
- a fluid-filled bubble at the vulva is not delivered within a few minutes;
- fresh bloody discharge lasts more than 10 minutes, or her temperature is above 103°F (39.4°C);
- she suddenly becomes depressed or very lethargic.
VCA also recommends a vet check of the mother and kittens within 24 hours of the birth.
This is an estimate, not veterinary advice. Ask your vet to confirm the pregnancy and the due date, and call them right away if you are worried.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a cat pregnant?
Usually 63 to 65 days. VCA Animal Hospitals gives a range of 64 to 71 days, with most cats delivering between day 63 and day 65 after breeding.
When can a vet confirm my cat is pregnant?
VCA says a veterinary examination about three to four weeks after breeding usually confirms it.
How do I know my cat is about to give birth?
In the last day or two she may produce milk, look for a hidden spot, groom a lot, pant and eat less, and her rectal temperature often drops below 100°F (37.5°C).
How much more should a pregnant cat eat?
VCA says food intake may rise by about 50% during pregnancy. Ask your vet which food and how much.
My cat was mated on several days. Which date do I use?
Use the first date as the mating date and enter the last one under More matings. The calculator widens the latest normal date to cover it.
Sources
VCA: Breeding and queening in cats · Merck Veterinary Manual: Whelping and queening in dogs and cats
Last reviewed: November 2026 · By Muhammad Shujah Uddin Qazi · How we check rates · Fee changes tracker