How to tell if a queen is pregnant


Princess Bella with her Prince Charming, Cherie-Finesse Dreamer of
Cherie-Zelle.
  1. When she returns from the stud, the queen has stopped calling, rolling and washing her genital area as she did during her season.
  2. After about ten days, the queen may lose appetite and become a little listless. (That’s Lady Arwen Evenstar!) Sometimes her appetite increases right away. (That’s Princess Bella). She may throw up a little more frequently – not just fur balls!
  3. She will usually spend more time sleeping.
  4. Pregnant queens often become more affectionate than usual. I love this! Enjoy every moment!

Lady Arwen Evenstar is pregnant and comes for morning cuddles …

5. Around 20 days, their nipples pink up – changing from their usual skin colour to a distinctly darker pink or even red.

6. Her appetite will increase and you will probably find she is eating more –little and often. (I always increase feeding at this time – offering kitten mousse or kitten wet food, baked chicken, biltong etc.)

7. You will notice your queen putting on weight and becoming heavier.

Petite pregnant Lady Arwen Evenstar – definitely broader and heavier.

8. I usually count from my queen’s second day with her stud. Towards the end of the pregnancy (which is between 63 – 67 days, averaging 65 days), a queen’s nesting instincts will kick in. She will start searching for a safe place to have her kittens – often in your cupboards. Place a box or make a nest of soft blankets in a quiet room and let her find it. Both of our cats prefer to give birth in the cupboard, but Arwen will happily move directly to the birthing box once she has delivered her first kitten. Princess Bella loves the cupboard in our guest room – and she always wants to keep her kittens out of general sight at first. However, this last time, she moved her kittens from the nest in the cupboard into the cat tent, which was exactly where I had chosen for them to be.


 Sir Baymax Boniface, Arwen’s first born, our sweet neutered boy is
investigating the nest in the bedroom cupboard. I quickly distracted him – Arwen turns into a TIGER mom when she has kittens.

9. Lady Arwen is happy to use an old suitcase as her first nesting box. I line the bottom of the case with layers of newspaper, and then a couple of linen savers with a soft fleecy blanket covered by a baby receiving “blanket”. This is made out of smooth flannel so that the kittens’ claws don’t get caught in the fabric.

Soon after delivery, I freshen up Arwen’s birthing box (an old suitcase) with clean linen-savers and bedding.
Princess Bella will NOT use any birthing box. It has to be a nest in the cupboard.
Here you see Arwen – quite exhausted – directly after delivery. Behind her (in the orange plastic box) is the hot pad on which I placed the kittens while she was delivering the next. Once she had rested, I could reorganize her birthing box, as you see in the picture above.
Bella resting in the cupboard with clean bedding after her delivery. She likes to stay in the cupboard with her new babies for at least a week,

11 Comments

  1. Yolandi Nabal on July 28, 2020 at 3:17 pm

    Please please let me know when you have a female kitten available???

    • Vivian Jenkins on July 28, 2020 at 6:41 pm

      Hi Yolandi
      Thank you for your inquiry. Lady Arwen Evenstar’s litter is due in mid September. Her waiting list is full. I will email you a relevant questionnaire to complete for my waiting list for Princess Bella. Very best wishes.

    • Rehana Kader on August 5, 2020 at 12:20 pm

      Good afternoon Vivian

      Please advise if you have any kittens available or when you will have any.

      I have been referred to you by a friend who is very happy with her gorgeous kitty.

      Looking forward to hearing from you.

      Warm regards
      Rehana

      • Vivian Jenkins on August 5, 2020 at 2:25 pm

        Hi Rehana
        Thank you for your inquiry about this beautiful, sensitive breed of cats. I think you know I’m a very small boutique breeder, with only two queens who are our beloved pets. As a result, we only have one litter of kittens each per year. Their babies are adorable and adored little princes and princesses in our home for the twelve weeks we are privileged to have them. Lady Arwen Evenstar is pregnant – her babies are due around 19 September. Her waiting list is already full, and has been for some time now. I’m planning to have a litter with Princess Bella in November. I will email the relevant information to your email address, along with a questionnaire for you to complete and return to me. Very best wishes.
        By the way – Do beware of internet scams – there are so many out there. If you have friends wanting to buy any breed of kittens, they should check that the breeder is registered with CASA or SACC (websites) to ensure that they are genuine.

  2. Tharien Nel on August 5, 2020 at 3:43 pm

    Hi Vivian,

    I have been referred to you by a good friend and I am also desperately looking for a little kitten. we have been through so many scams. Could you please send me the questionnaire and requirements needed to start the process.

    • Vivian Jenkins on August 5, 2020 at 4:05 pm

      Hi Tharien I’m so sorry that you’ve been scammed – it’s happened to so many people and it’s shocking how these criminals seem to just get away with it.
      I’ve replied to your message via Facebook, sending you all the relevant information including cost, contracts etc. If you are happy with those, let me know and I can go ahead and email you with the questionnaire. Very best wishes. Vivian

  3. Tharien on August 5, 2020 at 3:44 pm

    Hi Vivian,

    I have been referred to you by a good friend and I am also desperately looking for a little kitten. we have been through so many scams. Could you please send me the questionnaire and requirements needed to start the process.

  4. Mariam Jacobs on August 7, 2020 at 9:27 pm

    Hi Vivian,

    I have also been referred to you by someone and I am desperately looking for a silver long- haired Chincilla. Could you please send me all the relevant information via inbox.
    Kind regards

    • Vivian Jenkins on August 23, 2020 at 4:03 pm

      Hi Mariam
      Thank you for your inquiry about these beautiful cats. All registered breeders of Persian Chinchilla (Original Longhair) Cats in the Western Cape charge R6000 for a pedigree kitten. 
      New owners sign a contract agreeing to sterilize their kitten at between four and six months.  All kittens are vet checked, dewormed and have had their first vaccinations when they are homed at around 12 weeks. 

      Prospective Forever families are respectfully advised that a kitten is not a gift for a child. He or she becomes a valued family member for the next 12- 15 years or more, with all of the significant costs and responsibilities involved!  (Please note that kittens will need second vaccinations a couple of weeks after arriving home with you.)

       If you are interested,  and would like to be on my waiting list, let me know. Our first litter of kittens next season will probably be born between September – November. I have a questionnaire that I ask prospective families to complete. This helps me to assess whether the family is a good ‘fit’ for one of my kittens, and it is also very useful for prospective buyers as it heightens awareness of what is involved in adopting one of these stunning cats.

      Very best wishes
      Vivian

  5. Lené Rossouw on February 26, 2021 at 10:34 am

    Hi there

    I have a beautiful Chinchilla Queen, Sky. I want to become a breeder/start breeding and expand our family but I’m looking for a beautiful King. Can someone please refer me to a breeder with a boy?

    Thank you very much

    • Vivian Jenkins on September 4, 2021 at 10:10 am

      Hi Lene. Sorry about the long delay in my reply. For some reason, your comment was in a moderation box! Are you registered to be a breeder with either CASA or SACC? From whom did you buy your beautiful girl, Sky? Did you not sign a contract with her breeder, to agree not to breed with her? If not, I would suspect that your breeder is either i) not registered or ii) becoming a little casual in the process! Breeding is a more complicated and stressful venture than most people realise, and responsible breeders are very careful to protect the breed and to maintain the best bloodlines. I was mentored by two of the best and most respected breeders during my breeding period. Before even thinking about selling a kitten to become a breeding cat, most reputable and good breeders would i) insist that you are registered and ii) need to meet you personally and ensure that you will be responsible and put the welfare of your cats and kittens above all else. Unregistered or “back street breeders” endanger this exquisite breed, and it’s so much better to become a part of the respected breeding community. You would also want to be absolutely sure that your stud and queen are completely free of feline HIV/AIDS,FIP and other genetic diseases. A kitten that becomes unwell in its first months with its forever family can involve law suits and much worse. I do hope this is helpful. I do not have any kittens available and I am not intending to breed this year. Please feel free to contact me again if you have any further questions. Best regards Vivian

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