If you are the owner of a pregnant cat, you probably want to know how many babies you can expect from your pet.
Remember that you cannot determine the number of kittens in a cat's belly by palpation - this way you can harm the embryos and cause stress to the animal.
Instead, use any of the three methods we'll outline below.
Science
Veterinarians and felinologists recommend examining a pregnant cat using modern methods, such as ultrasound. The procedure is carried out approximately a week before the expected birth. This method allows you to determine the exact number of future kittens.
Genetics
You can predict what the litter will be like by paying attention to the number of kittens born to the mother of your pregnant cat. The fecundity of a cat is reflected in her offspring. For example, if the mother of your pregnant cat gave birth to 8 kittens at a time, then your cat will most likely have the same number. If this figure was 2 or 4, then you should not count on a large litter.
Folk omens
Experienced breeders use the following method of counting: they count how many mammary glands the cat has (not all of them, but those that swell during pregnancy) and subtract two. Although this method does not guarantee 100% accuracy, it is often used.
