Your pregnant cat is anxious and restless.
She’s likely to be more excitable than usual because ofher role as a new member of the household.
She’s likely to become overactive during her prenatal period, and she may experience some separation anxiety when her new arrival is expected.
You, as her owner, are her biggest source of excitement. You must ensure that she’s always comfortable during her routine.
So, why is my pregnant cat hyperactive and restless? Your cat is restless and hyperactive because it’s pregnant.
Cats have 9 months to prepare for the birth of their kittens, and that means that lots of activity is required. Pregnancy also increases a cat’s number of hormones, which affects how it behaves.
Therefore, a cat that’s pregnant will be more energetic and restless than a cat that’s not pregnant. Your cat’s behavior should soon return to normal once its kittens are born.
Why Is My Pregnant Cat Hyperactive And Restless?
Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome
Feline hyperesthesia syndrome is an uncommon reason of a restless or hyperactive pregnancy in cats.
Hyperesthesia is a condition of extreme sensitivity in the skin of cats caused by various reasons such as allergies or parasites like fleas, mites or lice infestation etc.
When owners go to pet this animal, the cat may feel that it’s being bitten by a flea and starts scratching itself furiously until it bleeds.
The reaction might be as simple as scratching one area of the body until it becomes red and hot or as severe as attacking the entire body with frenzied bites until it becomes a blood bath.
Fleas
A pregnant cat with fleas may suffer from intense itching, restlessness and anxiety attacks resulting in hyperactivity of the animal.
If your cat is meowing, it may be a sign that it’s suffering from fleas.
Fleas are not usually apparent on cats because they can’t jump very high on their body but they prefer to lie in carpets where they easily bite the sensitive parts of their bodies.
They feed on cats’ blood by biting them repeatedly and leave irritating skin rashes all over the body which become red and painful if scratched excessively by felines.
Heavy flea infestations or severe allergic dermatitis may cause restlessness in cats and cause them to behave abnormally.
Worse, cat fleas may transmit diseases like tapeworms causing nausea and other digestive disorders in your cat.
Senility
If you have a pregnant senior cat, it may have senility affecting its nervous system.
As a pet matures, its brain may shrink due to loss of neurons and decrease in blood supply to the central nervous system and its cognitive functions become impaired gradually resulting in mental deterioration with age.
Aging cats, like people, develop some degree of senile dementia characterized by disorientation, confusion, wandering, memory loss, mood swings, behavioral changes and loss of social contact.
Nocturnal Instinct
Another reason for your pregnant cat’s strange behavior could be that its instinct to mate during the nighttime is acting up.
A cat may display strange behavior if it’s trying to mate with a male that lives next door or if another male has sneaked into your house and is chasing your female.
While their owners are at work or school during the day, many males in the neighborhood visit each other for mating purposes.
When the owner comes home in the evening, the males are long gone, but the female is left in a frenzy having given birth during the night time.
Predatory Instinct
Domestic cats maintain some predatory instincts which make them aggressive towards small animals like rodents and birds.
At times, a hyperactive pregnant cat may become irritable and start attacking you or other small pets in your home when hunting instincts take over its mind.
A house cat that does not have to hunt for prey throughout the day remains in a state of perpetual hunger and therefore becomes more defensive when exposed to the sight of other small animals.
Do Pregnant Cats Still Play?
Pregnant cats still play!
While pregnant cats typically sleep more than usual, they still like to play. In fact, pregnant cats might play even more than usual.
For regular cats, play is a healthy way to relax and have fun. Cats that lack play time might become depressed or anxious.
In contrast, play helps pregnant cats relax and bond with their kittens, which will help them bond with their human owners after birth. Pregnant cats can play normally with their favorite toys and games.
However, it’s important for pregnant cats to avoid rough games, such as wrestling or chasing, during the last two months of pregnancy. Otherwise, the kittens might get bruised or injured.
Pregnant cats should also avoid any tumbling or jumping games, as it might cause stress to the kittens in the womb. Overall, pregnant cats still play.
When Does Cat Hyperactivity Become a Problem?
Cats are adorable and cuddly companions, but they can be a lot of work too.
Cats have a reputation for being hyper and mischievous. However, this doesn’t mean that all cats should be viewed as annoying pests.
Hyperactivity can be a sign of other issues. For example, if your cat is hyper all the time and jumps on people and furniture, it could be a sign of anxiety or compulsive disorder.
In addition, hyper cats can suffer from extreme stress or trauma. If your cat is hyper most of the time, consult with a veterinarian to determine the cause.
If your cat is hyper only occasionally, it’s probably just normal cat behavior.
How To Cure Hyperactivity In Pregnant Cats?
Having a cat as a pet is a rewarding experience, but how can you make sure that your cat remains healthy? Cats need constant care, and it’s your job to take good care of them. A cat’s health depends on the care you take of its health, which includes routine checks and tests, but also its diet and its environment.
To make sure your cat is healthy, make sure it eats a well-balanced diet, get your pet checked by a veterinarian regularly, and avoid exposing your cat to environmental hazards.
- Feed your cat a balanced diet – Your cat’s diet should consist of a nutritionally balanced mix of meat, grains, fruits and vegetable. While your cat may enjoy eating meat, you should ensure it eats quality meat.
- Feed your cat at the right time – You should feed your cat at the same time every day to avoid making your cat hungry or overweight.
- Give your cat adequate exercise – Cats need physical activity to stay healthy, but you should never force it to exercise. You can exercise with your cat by playing fetch or using a laser pointer.
- Give your cat enough sleep – Cats need about 12 to 16 hours of sleep each day to stay healthy. Make sure you give your cat the right amount of sleep to stay at its optimal health.
- Get your cat checked by a veterinarian – Cats need regular checkups by a veterinarian to check for some common health issues like hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, and diabetes.
- Keep your cat away from toxic materials – Toxic materials include pesticides, poisons, medications, and cleaning products. Your cat may ingest these harmful materials, which can lead to a wide range of health problems. You can help prevent your cat from ingesting toxic materials by keeping your cleaning supplies and medications in a safe area.
- Keep your cat away from poisonous plants – Some common poisonous plants are lilies, azaleas, aloe plants, and daffodils. Keep your cat away from these poisonous plants to avoid accidental poisoning.
- Keep your cat away from animals – Some cats may be aggressive to other cats, while other animals may be aggressive towards cats. Keep your cat away from other animals to avoid fighting or injury.
- Keep your cat away from traffic – You should keep your cat away from busy roads or highways to avoid injury.
Also Read: Why Is Your Cat Not Eating After Spay?
Final Words
If your pregnant cat becomes hyperactive for no apparent cause, don’t panic. It’s probably just a normal part of pregnancy.
If your cat shows signs of excessive aggression towards people or other animals, or if your cat is excessively depressed, consult a veterinarian to determine the cause.
Hypertensive and pregnant cats are more vulnerable to certain illnesses and conditions. By giving them a nutritious and well-balanced diet and making sure they get enough sleep, you can help your pregnant cat
