How Does
Maturity
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Female cats reach sexual maturity between 6 and 9 months of age. However, kittens as young as 4 months occasionally become pregnant. Male cats mature a few months later than female cats, but both genders can reproduce before they reach their first birthday.
Mating
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Cats can become pregnant at any time of the year. The female's oestrus cycle, the time when mating is most likely to occur, will last from four to seven days. The cycle will last even longer if she doesn't mate. Female cats vocalize their search for a beau with a loud yowl. Female cats can come into heat as often as five times per year and have up to three litters per year.
The male cat's penis has spines that scratch the inside of his partner, causing ovulation to occur. The female cat may have several partners and a litter of kittens may include the offspring of several male cats.
Pregnancy
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There are few obvious signs that a cat is pregnant. About three weeks after mating, her nipples become pinker than usual. Pregnant cats are quieter and begin to gain weight. You will likely need a veterinarian to confirm your cat's pregnancy unless she is in the final days of gestation.
The gestation is between 56 and 71 days with an average cat pregnancy lasting 68 days. A pregnant cat should be provided with a high-quality food and she will need extra portions while eating for a litter. She will likely sleep more and may need help with grooming in the final days before delivery. A few days before delivery, the female cat will begin looking for a place to "nest." One to two days before delivery, she may stop eating.
Delivery
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The actual time of labor for most cats is often only about two hours. While in labor, the cat will purr and pant. If your cat has strong contractions for more than two hours without kittens being born, you should call a veterinarian.
Each kitten is born in its own amniotic sac that usually breaks open during the birthing process. If it doesn't break on its own, the mother will break it. She will also sever the umbilical cord and eat the placenta. Most cats have three to six kittens in a litter, though delivery can be as small as one kitten or as large as nine.
Newborns
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Kittens are blind and deaf at birth. Their senses will not begin to function until they are 10 to 12 days old. Soon after birth, the mother cat cleans her kittens and her licking helps to stimulate the babies' circulation. The mother cat can come into heat again as little as four weeks after giving birth.
eHow Article: How Do Cats Have Babies?
