Maine Coon Pregnancy
A female Maine Coons pregnancy takes longer than most other felines, which might bring about anxiety.
Signs Of Pregnancy
A Maine Coon pregnancy lasts between 63 and 70 days. During this period your Maine Coon needs the healthiest diet, with a kitten formula mixed in. Towards the due date, your Maine Coon will also need a safe, sheltered, and clean space that is comfortable to give birth to her litter.
Maine Coons will not show physical signs of pregnancy until they are a few weeks into their pregnancy. These are key signs and symptoms to watch out for:
1. Pink Swollen Nipples
One of the tell-tale signs of Maine Coon pregnancy is swollen and pink nipples. At around three weeks of pregnancy, your Maine Coon nipples will become much larger and darken in color.
This sign is usually called “pinking up” by veterinarians.
2. Swollen Belly
After about a month of pregnancy, you will notice that your pregnant Maine Coon has started to develop a rounded, swollen abdomen, an indication that her kittens are growing.
Even if your cat is overweight, her abdomen will still be swollen and round.
3. Noticeable Weight Gain In A Few Weeks
Although weight gain is something gradual, pregnant cats usually gain weight at a higher rate.
On average, a pregnant Maine Coon will gain between two and four pounds, depending on the number of kittens.
4. Morning Sickness
Just like other females in the animal kingdom, pregnant Maine Coons go through a period of being sick occasionally.
Your expecting cat might therefore vomit due to nausea.
However, considering that vomiting and nausea could be signs of other health problems, you should keep an eye on your beloved cat and contact a vet if vomiting becomes very frequent.
Here are the key Maine Coon health problems to look out for.
5. Increased Appetite
Increased appetite sounds obvious when talking about pregnancy.
In general, a pregnant Maine Coon’s appetite will increase by roughly 50% during the gestation period.
For this reason, make sure to give your pregnant Maine Coon high-quality cat food (like this) and provide her with extra food to keep herself and the unborn kittens healthy.
NEVER feed your pregnant Maine Coon these 20 food types, since they can be extremely harmful to your cat.
6. Nesting Behavior
When about to give birth, the pregnant cat will start to look for a quiet, safe spot where she can give birth.
Some felines will become territorial and fight over space or comfy things like blankets.
7. Increase In Affection
Maine Coon cats are known for being affectionate, but pregnant Maine Coons will start acting more maternal, and become more clingy and affectionate towards their human family.
If you are a keen observer, you will notice your cat purring more often, following you around, and begging for cuddles than before.
Have you ever wondered why the Maine Coon cat breed is known for following their humans around the house?
If you have, take a look at my article why does my Maine Coon follow me?
8. Increased Sleep
Despite being a very energetic breed, pregnant Maine Coons often become lethargic and need a lot more rest to stay healthy.
As such, increased sleep is a clear sign that your female Maine Coon is pregnant.
9. Veterinary Assistance
If you have a female Maine Coon cat that has never been spayed and displays some or all of these pregnancy signals, it is almost likely that she is pregnant.
Considering that some of these signs can indicate other conditions, it will be best if you take the feline to the vet for a pregnancy confirmation.
Ultrasounds to confirm a pregnancy can be done as early as three weeks.
Maine Coon pregnancy, whether planned or unplanned, should be discussed with a qualified veterinarian to ensure the mother and her kittens remain healthy (source 1,2).
Early Signs A Cat Is Pregnant
If you suspect your unspayed Maine Coon is pregnant, visit your veterinarian to determine if your cat is pregnant, or not. This step is important because some cats experience false pregnancies.
1. Cat’s Heat Cycle Stops Abruptly
Cats normally have a heat cycle every one to three weeks.
This is easy to notice because heat cycles accompany rolling on the floor and yowling.
Therefore, if your unspayed female Maine Coon’s heat cycles stop abruptly, it could be an early sign of pregnancy.
2. Vomiting And Nausea
Vomiting is one of the early signs of pregnancy.
Although not all Maine Coon have morning sickness, it is a common sign that a cat is pregnant.
3. Significant Changes In Appetite
A short period after conception a queen will often have a reduced appetite.
This is nothing to worry about; their appetite usually starts to increase again, up to about 50%.
4. Changes To The Body
As early as three weeks into pregnancy, you should be able to see the nipple of a pregnant cat getting larger and pink.
5. Behavioral Changes
When your cat is expecting, it will likely be more content to stay indoors.
Your Maine Coon might also seek more of your attention.
What Age Can A Maine Coons Get Pregnant?
Maine Coon cats reach sexual maturity as early as six months of age. At this seemingly early age, female Maine Coons go into heat roughly every 1-3 weeks, meaning a unspayed female cat can get pregnant.
Female cats are ready for breeding at around 18 to 24 months of age, however, it is advisable to delay breeding until your cat has fully developed, particularly since these large cats are known for their slow growth rate, taking 3-5 years to reach full size.
A female Maine Coon that becomes pregnant before she is fully grown can experience stunted growth and might be at a higher risk for dangerous pregnancy.
The maximum cat breeding age is about seven years old as aged cats are at high risk of dangerous pregnancies and births (source 1).
Pregnancy Timescales
Maine Coon cats are polyestrous, meaning they heat several times each year. That said, an unspayed Maine Coon cat that has reached the ideal breeding age can be bred at any time during the active state of her heat stage.
Typically, cats have a gestation period of 63 to 70 days, with many Maine Coon pregnancies lasting 68 days.
Throughout the gestation period, your cat will undergo some noticeable physical changes. For instance, around 30 days after mating, the cat’s belly will become noticeably large and round.
Here is a cat pregnancy timeline:
Weeks 1 – 2
After mating, fertilization will occur within the first week, and the fertilized egg will implant into the feline’s uterus. Once the fertilized egg implants into the uterus, the placenta forms, and embryos develop.
While your Maine Coon will not act any different during this period, her hormones will begin changing. She may start acting differently towards the end of the second week.
Week 3
The kittens start to develop during the third week, beginning with the formation of their internal organs.
As your Maine Coon’s hormones increase, you may notice her nipples getting darker and enlarged. This is the first physical sign of a cat’s pregnancy.
Week 4
Your cat will likely suffer from morning sickness, and her body weight will start increasing significantly.
Weeks 5 – 6
The unborn kittens are now big enough for your vet to feel.
Your cat’s appetite will also explode, and you should notice her bigger size. Remember to feed your Maine Coon high-quality cat food mixed with kitten formulas to help the unborn kittens develop correctly.
Weeks 7 – 8
Your Maine Coon cat will have a pregnant belly and some cats may start nesting, so it is time to prepare the nesting box.
Contrary to expectations, her appetite can decrease because she has less stomach space.
The unborn kittens will move inside the belly, and their rolls plus kicks should be evident.
Weeks 9 -10
Your cat may act anxious and meow more often. The cat will go into labor anytime within this period.
You can expect the feline to give birth anywhere after the 63rd day into the term. During this period, give your cat optimal care to ensure she stays safe with her unborn litter.
What To Do When Your Cat Is Pregnant
Pregnant Maine Coons need a lot of extra care to ensure a safe and healthy pregnancy, plus birth. Here is what you need to do when your treasured cat is pregnant:
Provide Extra Food
During pregnancy, your cat’s appetite increases by about 50%. To ensure they stay safe and healthy, provides enough food for her increased appetite.
You should also ensure you are feeding your pregnant cat the best cat food, which is typically rich in proteins and low in carbohydrates.
Safe Space
Providing a pregnant cat with a safe, isolated, and comfortable space is one of the best things you can do to support her well-being.
While this can be virtually anywhere, your cat should feel secure in her environment.
Keep In Contact With Your Vet
Whether you are a hobbyist or a seasoned breeder, take the pregnant cat to the vet for regular check-ups to ensure the pregnancy is going smoothly.
Breeding Maine Coons is an expensive and time-consuming process. It also requires a lot of patience.
Before venturing into this business scheme, be ready to take it on as a full-time job, especially when your Maine Coon cat gets pregnant (source 1).
What To Do When Your Cat Is Giving Birth
When approaching labor, your queen will search for a suitable place to give birth, ideally a quiet, clean, and warm spot.
To ensure your Maine Coon gives birth in a safe place (that you have chosen and prepared yourself), close all closet doors and block entries to any hidden areas immediately when you notice the first signs of cat labor.
If your queen does go into labor in an undesirable spot, do not move her as this could put her under undue stress. When your Maine Coon is giving birth, keep an eye on the process and have an emergency vet call should anything go wrong (source 1).
Maine Coon First Litter
Generally, younger queens give birth to smaller litters than aging queens.
A Maine Coons first litter will usually only produce 1 – 3 kittens, but future pregnancies are likely to result in anything up to 12 kittens per litter!
Health-wise, the health of kittens in the first litter as well as subsequent litters will depend on the genetics and health condition of their parents.
Genetic health problems can be transmitted from breeding parents to litter, but infections from bacteria, viruses, and bacteria will more likely weaken the litter’s immune system.
Make sure you screen your Maine Coon for genetic disorders or conditions, before breeding her.
To ensure larger and healthy kittens, you should breed your Maine Coon once or twice a year (source 1).
