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You are here: Home / Cats / Cat Health

What is false pregnancy in cats?

January 16, 2015 by Maris Munkevics, Signe Munkevica

Cat with an increased appetite
Increased appetite is one of the most common signs of false pregnancy in cats.

False pregnancy in cats, also known as pseudocyesis, is a state when some true pregnancy signs are present in a non-pregnant female cat. Most people have heard about false pregnancy in dogs, but a similar, though not as common, condition can occur in female cats.

False pregnancy in cats occurs when a female cat ovulates but does not become pregnant. Unlike humans or dogs, cats do not ovulate in a cycle. Cats are known as induced ovulators, which means that they ovulate only after mechanical stimulation of the vagina.

Therefore, the two most probable causes of false pregnancy in cats are:

  • Mating-induced ovulation, which was sterile
  • Ovulation induced by a hormonal imbalance

A third alternative is ovulation intentionally induced in a veterinary clinic. This is often done to stop the heat cycle or for other medical reasons.

Signs of false pregnancy in cats:

  • Almost no signs in most cases. The cat enters the state of false pregnancy after ovulation, and hormones act as if she were pregnant, but there are no signs, or they are not observable.
  • Increased appetite is the most common sign of false pregnancy, just at it is a common sign of true pregnancy. Note that cats might want to eat a lot for other reasons.
  • Weight gain partly caused by hormonal activity and increased appetite.
  • Nesting behavior. The female cat acts like she is getting ready for birth, creating a nest and being restless.
  • Lactation is a rare sign of false pregnancy in cats but usually is the one that grabs owners’ attention after other signs have gone unnoticed.
  • Other signs of true pregnancy are even rarer, but do not be surprised if any occur. You can find a list of pregnancy signs in cats here.

Treatment for false pregnancy in cats 

You actually do not treat it. In most cases, it will come end in 40 days, and the heat cycle will begin again. However, if the false pregnancy was induced by a hormonal disorder, there is a high risk of it happening again. In such cases, it is advisable to spay your cat. This disorder might be inherited, so it is not advised to breed her.

This article is a part of a series about the heat cycle in cats.

Related articles:

  • How often do cats go in heat?How often do cats go in heat?
  • How hormones work during heat cycle of a catHow hormones work during heat cycle of a cat
  • All about female cats in heatAll about female cats in heat
  • Why do female cats go in heat?Why do female cats go in heat?
  • Signs of pregnancy in catsSigns of pregnancy in cats
  • How to prevent unwanted pregnancy in catsHow to prevent unwanted pregnancy in cats
  • How to calm a female cat in heatHow to calm a female cat in heat
  • How long do female cats stay in heat?How long do female cats stay in heat?

About Maris Munkevics, Signe Munkevica

This website is passionately created by Maris, who is a biologist and cat behaviorist, and Signe, who is a veterinarian and pet groomer. Learn more about us here.
Note, some of our pages contain links to products relevant to the content. If you buy anything through these links, it helps us pay our bills. Thank you!

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