How Long Do Siamese Cats Stay Pregnant – Timeline & Stages

The birth of a new life is an exciting time for humans and pets alike. If you think your Siamese cat is expecting, you might be exploding with questions about the process and wondering how you can help your feline through the birthing process. So, how long do Siamese cats stay pregnant? 

A Siamese cat is pregnant on average for 65 days from conception, coming out to about nine weeks. The total gestation time can run anywhere from 58 to 72 days. 

If you’ve got a pregnant Siamese cat and want to know what to expect, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. While your expectant mother, or “queen,” will tap into her instincts to bring her little Siamese babies into the world, you’ll feel better when armed with the information you need to make the transition as easy as possible. 

Here’s the A-Z guide for helping your Siamese cat through her pregnancy stages.

How To Tell If Your Siamese Cat Is In Heat

Your cat is “in heat” when her body is preparing itself for fertilization. Signs that your Siamese cat is in heat include:

● Vocalizing loudly and often

● Spraying urine around the house

● Raising her hind end up in the air

● Attention-seeking more than normal

● Rolling around on the floor

● Demanding to go outside (even if it’s an indoor cat)

Heat cycles for Siamese cats can occur as often as every 2-3 weeks, making it easier for them to become impregnated. They can even receive sperm from multiple males in one heat period, resulting in a rainbow of different fur patterns that can occur in one litter.

As opposed to human moms whose bodies ovulate on a regular cycle, a cat’s eggs are triggered for release by a sexual encounter with a male cat. This is called induced ovulation. 

Feeding A Pregnant Siamese Cat 

During this exciting time, your pregnant mama will require more calories and nutrients than regular adult cat food. 

Many sources recommend feeding your cat high-quality kitten food containing more protein and other nutritious compounds, to give her the boost she needs.

It’s also vital that your Siamese drinks plenty of fresh water to help her stay hydrated.

Siamese Cat Pregnancy Timeline

Unlike human pregnancy, which spans nine months, pregnancy for a Siamese cat lasts only nine weeks! Here’s a week-by-week breakdown of what to expect when your cat is expecting.

Week of Pregnancy	Kitten Development	Changes in Your Siamese
Week 1	Sperm attaches to eggs which then implant into uterus	No noticable changes
Week 2	Embryos begin to develop and placenta starts to form	No noticable changes
Week 3	Brains, legs, circulatory systems and internal organs begin to form	Nipples get larger and/or darker
Week 4	Skeletons and nervous systems develop	First signs of morning sickness
Week 5	Nerves and muscles develop	Belly filling out and kittens kicking
Week 6	Skin thickens and tails elongate	Increase in appetite
Week 7	Fur develops	Full belly, drinking more
Week 8	Just about fully formed	Fur loss around nipples
Week 9	Fully formed	Showing signs of labor

Week 1

After your cat has mated with its beau, the sperm from the male cat will attach to the eggs. These fertilized eggs will then be implanted into the uterus.

At this early stage, you might not notice any changes in your Siamese cat’s appearance. If you can, you should try to mark the date of suspected fertilization to help you calculate your pet’s due date. 

Week 2

In the second week of your cat’s pregnancy journey, the embryos will begin to develop, and the placenta starts to take form in the uterus.

Your Siamese will most likely still be exhibiting her typical cat behavior. Keep observing her as the weeks go by, and don’t hesitate to give your vet a call if you notice any behavior that gives you cause for concern.

Week 3

This is the week that you may start to notice physical changes in your Siamese. Her nipples are most likely getting larger or darker in color. This will be more apparent in the light tones of the Siamese.

Inside your cat’s belly, the little kittens-to-be are beginning to form their brains, legs, circulatory systems, and internal organs. This is a big week for them!

It’s a good idea to bring your Siamese cat to the vet for an examination to ensure she is healthy and robust enough to undergo the impending changes to her body. They will also let you know if any adjustments should be made to your Siamese cat’s diet or routine.

An ultrasound can confirm your cat’s pregnancy and even discern the little heartbeats of the kittens in her womb! They are not, however, entirely accurate in giving you the final number of offspring. 

Week 4

In this next week of pregnancy, the kittens’ mini skeletons and nervous systems are developing. They are changing in status from an embryo to a fetus. Congratulations!

This is the week where you might start to notice some behavioral changes in your cat-mother-to-be. The first signs of morning sickness – vomiting or decreased appetite – will begin to appear. 

As with humans, everyone’s experience is different, and your cat may or may not show signs of morning sickness. That’s why it’s always a good idea to keep a close eye on her and get familiar with her tendencies.

Making a small amount of food available more often during the day can help your Siamese with her morning sickness. Frequent vomiting and minimal eating may be a cause for concern and a reason to consult your vet. 

From this point on, you should avoid picking up your pregnant cat so as not to cause inadvertent harm to her or her kittens. 

Week 5

At this time in the pregnancy, teeny tiny kitten nerves and muscles are beginning to develop. As their muscles get stronger, the unborn Siamese kittens will start moving and kicking within their mother’s belly.

By now, you may start to notice your Siamese queen is filling out! Your vet might even be able to feel the kittens inside your cat’s belly, though an x-ray later down the line will be the most accurate method of determining numbers.

Week 6

In the sixth week of pregnancy, the unborn kittens’ skin starts to thicken, and their little tails become longer and more distinct.

In high contrast to the decreased appetite of weeks before, your Siamese cat may have done a 180 at this point and be begging for more food! Her body is preparing itself to feed these kittens once they’re born, and her required nutrients have grown exponentially. 

Continue to feed your Siamese multiple small meals throughout the day. As mentioned before, it can help to mix in some kitten food with her regular meals since it is higher in nutrients and caloric content. 

This can be beneficial to the kittens as they grow and mature and meet the increased energy needs of the Siamese mama.

Week 7

During week 7, the kittens develop their soft baby fur.

At this time, your Siamese’s pregnant belly will be very apparent. She will want to drink more as well, so make sure to have plenty of fresh water made available at all times.

After the 45th day of pregnancy, it is safe to get an x-ray done to confirm the number of kittens inside.

Week 8

By now, your pregnant princess will be waddling around with an obviously pregnant belly. 

She might lose some fur around her nipples, which makes it easier for the kittens to nurse. Don’t worry! It will grow back after delivery. You may also begin to see milk droplets on the nipples’ tips as they prepare to feed little mouths. 

If your Siamese cat is badgering you for attention, give her as much love as you can! On the other hand, she might prefer to be left alone as she prepares to welcome her little ones into the world.

Siamese cats will choose an area to “nest” in – the place where she’d like to do her birthing. It will be helpful to her if you bring her food and water bowls to her place of nesting for easy access.

Week 9

Your Siamese cat is nearing the end of her pregnancy journey! The kittens should be fully formed and ready to come out at any time.

SIGNS YOUR CAT IS GOING INTO LABOR

 You might notice the following symptoms in your Siamese as she prepares for labor:

● Decrease in body temperature by about 1 degree (below 100℉) 

● Increase in vocalization and/or restlessness

● Decrease in appetite

● Preference for isolation

● Some vulvar discharge

If the discharge is dark or black or your cat is straining without any sign of kittens, call your vet immediately. 

How To Help Your Siamese Cat Through Labor 

Keep your vet’s number on hand for any immediate questions. Line the area with towels and monitor your cat’s labor process.

Each kitten will be born in its own amniotic sac, which the mama will remove by licking it. If she does not, rub gently with a towel to remove it. She should also bite off the umbilical cord.

Labor can sometimes take up to 12 hours. Do not attempt to move your cat or her kittens at any point during labor. This can cause stress in this vulnerable stage.

How Many Kittens Do Siamese Cats Have

Siamese cats average about 4-6 kittens in a litter, though they have been known to birth higher kittens than other breeds.

This is important information to know as you prepare for new kittens in the home. Knowing how many kittens they will have will help you plan for food accommodations, vet checkups, and everything else.

Most newborn cats can get their nutrition and essential needs from the mother. However, if you want to help them along, there are special foods specifically for the mother cat and the kittens. Nutrition is especially important in the early stages of birth. 

Handling Cat Pregnancy

Cat pregnancy can be both exciting and nerve-wracking for pet owners. If this is your first time going through this with your cat, don’t worry! The most important thing to remember is that your cat should always be comfortable in their surroundings. The number one thing is to make sure the cat is safe, well-nourished, and given space to do their thing.  

Hopefully, you’ve found the information helpful. If you suspect your Siamese cat is pregnant, refer to the chart above to figure out which stage they are currently in. This can help you prepare for those future kittens!