Cats become pregnant very easily. Pregnancy can occur whenever the female is in heat, which takes place several times a year from Spring to Autumn. But with no obvious outward changes taking place in the pregnant cat during the first few weeks, you won’t see any real difference to begin with. After three weeks or so, however, you should be able to spot the telltale signs.

Signs of pregnancy

• After three weeks, the nipples become enlarged and red, which is known as "pinking-up".
• A pregnant queen may also go through a stage of being sick occasionally. It's nothing to worry about - just a bit of morning sickness.
• Your cat will gradually gain between one and two kilograms, depending on the number of kittens. This is a strong indication that she is pregnant. Pregnancy can be accurately diagnosed by ultrasound after 28 days, and a vet can determine the number of kittens by x-ray after 45 days.
• The abdomen will start to swell, but avoid touching it so you don't risk damaging the unborn kittens.
• Your cat's behaviour will become "maternal" and she may begin to purr a lot.
• She is likely to refuse food, will act unsettled and might start to look for a suitable quiet place in which to give birth.
• The first sign of labour is a temperature drop in the mother to around 37.8º C.
• You should then see the abdomen contracting and a vaginal discharge (if the discharge is heavy and black or blood coloured then you should contact your vet).

The average feline pregnancy lasts between 60 and 65 days. Once you're sure, you should take the mother-to-be to your vet to confirm the pregnancy. Once there, the vet should be able to advise the best course of action.