If you suspect your cat is pregnant, there are a number of telltale signs you can look out for before consulting a vet.

Cats become pregnant very easily. Pregnancy can occur whenever the female is in heat, which takes place several times a year.

If your cat is pregnant, you won’t be able to spot any real difference in her until after three weeks.

• After three weeks, the nipples ‘pink-up’, which means they become enlarged and red.
• Your cat may also go through a stage of ‘morning sickness’.
• Depending on the number of kittens, your cat will gradually gain between one and two kilograms.
• The abdomen will start to swell. Don’t touch it to avoid risking damage to the unborn kittens.
• Your cat’s behaviour will become "maternal" and she may begin to purr a lot.
• She is also likely to refuse food, will act unsettled and might start to look for a suitable quiet place in which to give birth.

If your cat starts displaying any of these symptoms, take her to the vet to confirm pregnancy.

The average feline pregnancy lasts between 60 and 65 days.