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Original poster

Do animals know when they're pregnant?

62 replies

AintNobodyHereButUsChickens · 16/12/2023 23:45

Late night musings.

Do animals know they're pregnant or is labour/birth/the subsequent babies a shock when it happens?

OP posts:
VanityDiesHard · 17/12/2023 14:22

SarahAndQuack · 17/12/2023 14:15

I agree, @VanityDiesHard. I think if we are going to say that animals act on instincts (and I think they do), we can't have it both ways and say that cats are weirdly lacking in natural instincts too. Cats have been domesticated for millennia; they are also perfectly able to suss out that their humans provide food and safety.

We had kittens that had been hand-reared; when my daughter cried they would go to her and start grooming her as they'd groom each other; when I was upset one of them used to come and pat my face with her paw.

I accept we can't say 'oh she understood you were sad and wanted to cheer you up,' because we simply don't know. But she was responding in a socially-legible way, and doing so because it's part of a nurturing interaction (the cat is nurtured by the human; she nurtures the human in response, because it's beneficial to both).

I agree with you and you actually have opened my mind as to what we can classify as 'knowledge', so thank you for that!

Nottheeightoutoftencats · 17/12/2023 14:31

https://pin.it/1gfZHvL

This one knows, she just doesn't know if they will be ginger, Persian or Siamese!

Congrats! | Pregnant cat, Funny cat memes, Funny animals

May 23, 2018 - Congrats! - World's largest collection of cat memes and other animals

https://pin.it/1gfZHvL

IHS · 17/12/2023 15:11

I had a cat who would catch mice and bring them up to our bedroom when ds was a newborn. It's the only time she ever did it. Presumably we were supposed to feed the mice to ds.

thecatsthecats · 17/12/2023 20:12

IHS · 17/12/2023 15:11

I had a cat who would catch mice and bring them up to our bedroom when ds was a newborn. It's the only time she ever did it. Presumably we were supposed to feed the mice to ds.

Our baby loving cat does that with his toys - and it's exactly what my old tomcat did to kittens.

He's demonstrating how to hunt! Baby DS isn't getting it yet...

IncompleteSenten · 17/12/2023 20:17

Yes. Of course. They nest. They know what to do on an instinctive level.

As do we. We're animals too and display many of those same instinctive behaviours. Our bodies know and evolution has developed certain behaviours on a species level even if not on an individual level within that species iyswim.

A lot of us 'just knew' we were pregnant
I did.

Some of us genuinely had no clue.

But as a species I think more of us are aware even if not on a conscious level than are genuinely unaware. And I'm not talking about being able to tell because you've missed a period.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 17/12/2023 20:21

XenoBitch · 17/12/2023 00:40

I used to work with a lady who bred from her dog. Her dog was not up for it all apparently. They had to tie her to a post and let a male rape her. Then when she had the pups, she rejected the whole litter.. who had to be hand raised by people.

I feel physically sick. I hope she was reported and prosecuted.
That poor dog and her poor babies.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 17/12/2023 20:23

Nottheeightoutoftencats · 17/12/2023 14:31

https://pin.it/1gfZHvL

This one knows, she just doesn't know if they will be ginger, Persian or Siamese!

I've saw that picture, It's adorable. I love the way she's looking at her babies on the scan like a human mum.

Nottheeightoutoftencats · 17/12/2023 20:28

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 17/12/2023 20:23

I've saw that picture, It's adorable. I love the way she's looking at her babies on the scan like a human mum.

Show quote history

It's the 'shock' in the second panel, its like the sonographer has just said 'you are X weeks pregnant' and she suddenly realises her DH may not be the father.

sashh · 18/12/2023 04:48

QueSyrahSyrah · 17/12/2023 10:23

This is interesting. I'm pregnant now and our cat has been so clingy with me the past couple of months. He's always favoured me over DH but recently he's rarely been out of arms reach.

Show quote history

Yes, you have to be looked after now.

Pop over to the litter tray with a pic of your guardian.

derxa · 18/12/2023 05:38

Even sheep have nesting behaviours. They go to the edge of the shed and paw the ground. Older ewes take it in their stride. Some younger ewes run away from their newborn lambs

P0llyP0cket · 18/12/2023 06:17

Pretty sure my horse had no idea. After she’d given birth, it took about 10 minutes for her to look around and the shock on her face was hilarious.

CombatBarbie · 18/12/2023 06:32

XenoBitch · 17/12/2023 00:40

I used to work with a lady who bred from her dog. Her dog was not up for it all apparently. They had to tie her to a post and let a male rape her. Then when she had the pups, she rejected the whole litter.. who had to be hand raised by people.

This disgusts me and how many breeders do it..... They wouldn't want it to happen to them but happy to allow it on their pets. Makes me mad.

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