Kittens are cute and cuddly and so much fun. But did you know that kittens can get pregnant? And it can happen a lot sooner than you may think.
Kittens can become pregnant when they are as young as four or five months old. Cats can start heat cycles before they are full-grown adults and then they go into heat about every 3 weeks.. Once in heat, they can easily become pregnant and have babies of their own - even if they are still babies themselves. The gestational period for kittens is only about 65 days. The average litter has 4-6 kittens. Cats can get pregnant and give birth to new litters multiple times per year. This quickly turns into thousands and thousands of kittens.
Cats ideally should be spayed before their first heat cycle at around 4 months old to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
Kittens don’t become full-grown cats until they are one year old. Since they are not fully grown, pregnant cats under one-year-old have a higher risk of pregnancy complications. Their bodies are still developing themselves! The mother should be using her energy to keep her own body growing without growing kittens of her own. Her own body needs as many nutrients as possible just to become a healthy adult. This is one reason why kitten food is specially formulated to have more calories than regular adult food - they need extra protein and nutrients to stay healthy as they grow into adult cats.
If a four or five month old kitten gets pregnant, her nutrients and energy are then going to her babies. This can have negative effects on both mother and babies. For instance, she may not be able to produce enough milk to care for them. The kittens may be quite a bit smaller than the average kitten upon birth. Additionally, since the mother's immune system is still developing, the kittens have a higher risk of illness.
Not spaying your pet contributes to unwanted litters and cat overpopulation. It leads to overcrowded shelters and euthanasia due to lack of space. There are hundreds of thousands of kittens born every year in the United States with nowhere to go. Unfortunately, thousands of neonatal kittens are euthanized because there are not enough people to care for them.
Benefits of spaying cats:
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Prevents development of a pyometra infection
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Decreases the risk of mammary cancer
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Eliminates the risk of developing uterine or cervical cancer
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Reduces roaming behaviors and helps keep cats safe at home
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Less marking and spraying since heat cycles are stopped
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Extends life expectancy
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Helps prevent overpopulation
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Fewer cats and kittens entering animal shelters
If you adopt your kitten from a shelter or rescue they will likely already be spayed/neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated before you can take them home. If you find your new pet or get them from someone else who has, you may be responsible for getting them routine medical care and their spay. If so, make sure to get them spayed as soon as you can. Cats generally need to be only 3 lbs in order to undergo the procedure. Spaying your pet will help to keep them happy and healthy and safe with you for years to come.
Love, Nala
