Behavior During Estrus (Heat)

• A cat in heat will roll around on the floor and yowl loudly.cat image by Dwight Davis from Fotolia.com
  
  A cat in heat yowls loudly and rolls around on the floor. She carries her tail sideways when she walks. She'll rub on furniture and other animals or people in the house, and try to get outdoors to find a mate.
  
  

Behavior During Pregnancy

• A pregnant cat will eat more.white angora cat eating from food bowl image by Stephen Orsillo from Fotolia.com
  
  A pregnant cat may become more affectionate and will eat and sleep more. Right before labor her appetite will decrease, and she may show anxiety or nesting behavior--looking for a quiet place to have her kittens.
  
  

Behavior During Labor

• Mother cats guide their kittens into position to nurse.kittens nursing / mother cat image by Katrina Miller from Fotolia.com
  
  When labor starts, the mother cat will purr loudly and pant. She may visit the litter pan frequently and start licking under her tail. As each kitten is born, she'll bite the umbilical cord, then lick them roughly to clean them and stimulate breathing. Then she'll nudge and lick the kittens into nursing position.
  
  

Behavior With Kittens

• Mother cats provide everything their kittens need during their first three weeks of life.kittens image by Katrina Miller from Fotolia.com
  
  For the first three weeks, the mother cat feeds the kittens, stimulates elimination, cleans up after and grooms them. As they grow, she teaches them play and predatory behaviors, litter pan usage and social skills, communicating with special calls.
  
  

Behavior Disciplining Kittens

• Mother cats keep their kittens in line by discipling them.cat breastfeeding kittens image by Ashley Djuricin from Fotolia.com
  
  Mother cats discipline rowdy kittens by growling, cuffing them, pinning them, scruffing them or simply walking away.