Confirming the pregnancy and understanding what is ahead

Cats are good at keeping secrets, and early pregnancy is easy to miss. A queen — the proper term for an unspayed female cat — carries her kittens for around 63 to 65 days, though 58 to 70 days can be normal. If you have taken in a stray, there is every chance she is already expecting.

The earliest sign is usually a change in her nipples, which swell and turn a deeper pink at around two to three weeks. She may eat more, sleep more and become more affectionate. Abdominal swelling tends to show from about four weeks. Your vet can confirm pregnancy with an ultrasound from roughly three to four weeks, and can often tell you how many kittens to expect — genuinely useful when preparing for the birth.

Making a quiet, safe nesting space

A pregnant cat needs somewhere she feels completely undisturbed. Choose a quiet room away from other pets, children and household noise, and set it up well before she is due so she accepts it as hers. Put her litter tray, food and water in the room, with the tray as far from the food as space allows.

Provide a sturdy cardboard box with low sides — an opening cut into one side works well — lined with soft, washable bedding. She may reject it and choose a wardrobe floor or airing cupboard instead. If she does, do not fight it: place bedding where she has decided and make sure the spot is warm and draught-free. Kittens cannot control their body temperature for the first few weeks, so warmth really matters.

Feeding a pregnant and nursing cat

From around the fourth week of pregnancy, and right through nursing, feed her a good-quality kitten food. It is richer in calories, protein and fat than adult food, which is exactly what a growing litter demands. Offer small meals several times a day and let her eat as much as she wants — she will regulate herself well.

Fresh water should always be available. Do not add calcium or vitamin supplements unless your vet advises it, as unnecessary calcium can cause problems around the birth. If she is a fussy eater, warming the food slightly or offering different textures often helps. If she goes off her food entirely, speak to your vet rather than waiting.

Preparing for the birth

Most cats give birth without help, and your main job is to stay calm and observe. In the day or so before labour she may become restless, pant, refuse food and lick her back end, and her temperature often dips slightly. Keep the room dim and quiet, and keep your vet's number to hand.

Kittens usually arrive every 15 to 30 minutes, though breaks of an hour or two can be normal. Mum breaks the sac, cleans the kitten and eats the placenta. Call your vet straight away if:

• She strains hard for more than 20 to 30 minutes without producing a kitten.
• More than two hours pass with obvious straining and no progress.
• There is heavy bleeding, or green or foul-smelling discharge before the first kitten.
• A kitten appears stuck, or is delivered and mum ignores it.
• She seems weak, distressed or unresponsive.

Trust your instincts. No vet will mind a call about a cat in labour.

The first few weeks with the kittens

Newborn kittens are entirely dependent. They cannot see or hear well, cannot toilet without mum's help, and need feeding every couple of hours. Mum does the work, so your role is to support her: keep her bowl full, water fresh, bedding clean and the room warm and peaceful. Limit visitors and handle the kittens only briefly at first.

Weighing each kitten daily on kitchen scales is a simple but powerful check. A newborn usually weighs around 90 to 110 grams and should gain roughly 10 to 15 grams a day. Speak to your vet if a kitten is not gaining, feels cold or is being pushed away from the litter.

From around two to three weeks kittens begin to toddle, and gentle, calm handling helps them grow into confident, friendly adults. Keep it short and positive.

Vet care, neutering and finding homes

Book a postnatal check for mum and the kittens once things have settled. Your vet will also advise on worming, which usually starts at around three weeks, and vaccinations, typically from eight to nine weeks. Kittens can be neutered from around four months.

Mum can become pregnant again surprisingly quickly — sometimes within days of giving birth — so plan her neutering with your vet rather than leaving it to chance.

Kittens should stay with their mother until at least eight to nine weeks, and many vets and rescues now recommend twelve to thirteen for the social skills they gain. When rehoming, ask questions, meet the new owner and charge a modest fee to deter the wrong people. If you feel out of your depth, a local rescue can often offer advice or take the family on.