- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
If your cat is pregnant, you might wonder how many tiny paws you can expect to arrive. The number of kittens per litter can range quite a bit, but it’s common for cats to have three to six kittens at a time.
That said, cats may also have just one kitten, or as many as 19 kittens!
In theory, a cat can give birth to 280 kittens over her lifetime. Cats can get pregnant starting around 4 months old, with each pregnancy lasting roughly 2 months.
Below, you’ll find some factors that can affect cat litter size, along with some expert guidance on taking care of your pregnant cat.
What Affects Litter Size?
The number of kittens a cat has can depend on three factors, explains Dr. Alex Crow, a veterinarian at Buttercross Veterinary Center. These include:
- Breed: Some breeds, like Siamese and Oriental, often have more kittens.
- Age: Younger cat moms usually have smaller litters.
- Health: A healthy cat usually has more kittens. A sick or hungry cat will likely have fewer kittens. Illnesses like feline leukemia virus or feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) can also affect pregnancy.
How to Tell How Many Kittens a Cat Will Have
“It’s not easy to know exactly how many kittens a pregnant cat is carrying,” Dr. Crow says. “Veterinarians use a few methods, but they aren’t always perfect.” These include:
- Ultrasound: This procedure allows veterinarians to look inside your cat’s belly to determine the shape of the kittens. Sometimes, however, it’s hard to see them clearly.
- X-ray: This procedure can be risky because it exposes the kittens and mother cat to radiation.
- Palpation: In this procedure, a vet gently feels your cat’s belly to make a rough guess of how many kittens she’s carrying.
In many cases, though, you won’t find out the exact number of kittens until they’re all born.
How Quickly Do Cats Breed?
Cats can get pregnant again very quickly. They usually go into heat a few weeks after they give birth, which means they might have up to five litters in one year.
One cat named Dusty had 420 kittens over her lifetime—she holds the Guinness World Record for Most Prolific Cat.
Other interesting facts about feline pregnancies:
- Cats are more likely to have kittens in the spring and summer.
- One cat may have up to 20 kittens a year (and sometimes more).
- Cats can give birth to kittens from different fathers at the same time! “This is called ‘superfecundation’. It happens when a cat mates with different male cats,” Dr. Crow explains.
All that said, responsible breeders won’t usually allow breeding queens to have more than two litters a year. Cats need time to recover between pregnancies, and too many litters can harm their health and cause overpopulation issues. After all, rescue shelters in many areas already overflow with kittens needing forever homes.
If you aren’t planning to breed your cat, consider getting her spayed.
“While there are pros and cons to every procedure, spaying included, it’s generally considered safe,” says Dr. Joanna Woodnutt MRCVS, a veterinarian at Petlearnia.
If your cat isn’t spayed, you can prevent pregnancies by keeping her inside your home.
What To Do If Your Cat Is Pregnant
“It’s best to keep in touch with your vet throughout your cat’s pregnancy so they can give you advice and be prepared to assist if necessary,” Dr. Woodnutt says.
You’ll also need to adjust your cat’s diet. “Kitten food is better as it has more calories per gram and is high in protein—exactly what she needs to help her kittens grow properly,” Dr. Woodnutt explains. Choosing a safe flea treatment and maintaining a regular worming schedule is also important.
“Towards the end of her pregnancy, you’ll need to set up a kittening area,” Dr. Woodnutt adds.
This chart below explains the stages of a cat’s pregnancy.
Stage | Signs |
1 | Increased restlessness and vocalization |
2 | Hiding |
3 | Increased grooming around the vulva |
4 | Panting |
5 | Eating less |
6 | Passing red or brown mucus from the vulva |
7 | Nesting |
8 | Birthing one kitten every 30 minutes |
9 | Passing one placenta per kitten |
When to call a vet
Most cats birth without the need for help, but you might need backup in some situations.
It usually takes 4-16 hours for a litter to be born. If your cat goes into labor but strains without producing a kitten for 30 minutes, Dr. Woodnutt suggests calling your vet for support.
“Green or very bloody discharge is also concerning,” she added.
What to do with stillborns
Sadly, some kittens are stillborn. This happens quite often, according to Dr. Crow—between 6% and 22% of the time for some cats. Stillbirths usually happen due to congenital malformations or birth defects.
“It’s best to take the stillborn kittens away from the mom quickly,” he advises. “Handle the kittens respectfully, wrap them in a clean cloth, put them in a cardboard box, and then bury them in your yard. Or, take them to a veterinarian or animal shelter to handle them properly.”
Important: Before burying kittens in your backyard, check your state’s laws about pet burial and follow any recommended procedures. Your vet may also be able to provide more guidance.
How To Care For Newborn Kittens
Newborn kittens are adorable — but they need plenty of care!
However many kittens your cat has, these steps can set you up for raising and rehoming them successfully:
- Keep the kittens with their mother for at least eight weeks.
- Ask your vet when they need a checkup. If they’re healthy you may be able to wait until their first vaccinations.
- Set up a litter box in their space and make sure the mother cat helps them use it.
- Ask your vet about flea and worming treatments for kittens.
- Schedule vaccinations for nine weeks and three months.
- Ask your vet to check the sex of the kittens, since this can be tricky!
- If you didn’t plan your cat’s pregnancy, keep her indoors and discuss spaying her with your vet.
And last but not least, don’t forget to give those adorable little fluffballs lots of cuddles as they grow!