| Day 1 | First day of mating. It's best to separate queen and tom 48 hours after the first mating. Subsequent matings occurring over a limited period of time enhance the release of Luteinizing Hormone from the pituitary gland. This hormone is needed for the final maturation of the ovarian follicles. One single mating would probably not be sufficient, but don't make the mistake of letting the two mate 'too' long (longer than three days) - it will be very difficult then to predict the date of confinement. The spermatozoa migrate up through the cervix.
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| Day 2 | Ovulation (the release of a mature egg from an ovarian follicle). The ovulation is induced by the act or acts of sexual intercourse. It usually takes place about 24 to 36 hours after intercourse. |
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| Day 2 - 3 | Spermatozoa reach the eggs in the oviducts. | |||
| Day 3 - 4 | Fertilization occurs in the oviducts which lead from the ovaries to the uterus. |
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| Day 4 - 6 |
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| Day 12 - 14 | The blastocystes implant in the wall of the uterus. |
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| Day 12 - 26 |
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| Day 15 - 22 |
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| Day 21 - 28 |
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| Day 26 - 30 |
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| Day 29 |
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| Day 35 | The Queens abdomen starts to get larger. |
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| Day 45 | It's very easy now to feel the kittens, counting them might be a bit more difficult. |
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| Day 48 - 56 |
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| Day 50 |
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| Day 50 -64 | If your queen has difficulties grooming herself, you might want to help her. Nipples and vulva should be gently cleaned with warm water, you might want to trim the hairs surrounding the nipples, to allow easier access for the kittens to suck. Do not remove the hair completely, some breeds are born with sharp talons which can tear the skin around the nipples. |
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| Day 59 - 62 | Milky fluid may be expressed from the nipples. |
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| Day 60 | You might want to start taking the queens rectal temperature each morning. |
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| Day 64 |
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| Day 65 | Expected date of confinement. This is just an average. Parturition may take place from the 59th to the 70th day. Kittens born before the 58th day will probably be too young to survive. |
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