Let’s Talk About Sex, Baby

We all know that the human gestation period (approximate time between the egg being fertilized and the birth of a baby) is 9 months, but did you ever wonder about the time it takes for our pets? Below there are a list of some of the most common pet gestation periods, how many babies (on average) and what the names of the babies are.

More Usual Pets

• Dogs ~ 63 days. 3-10 puppies depending on the breed. Smaller breed dogs usually have small litters, and the bigger breeds have larger litters (have seen up to 16 Rottweilers in on litter years ago).
• Cats ~ 63 days. 2-5 kittens
• Rabbits ~31 days. 3-12 kits
• Hamsters ~ 22 days. 12 pups
• Ferrets ~41 days. 6-8 kits
• Guinea pigs ~ 70 days. 2 pups

Fun Pets

• Cows ~ 280 days. 1 calf
• Goats ~ 140 days. 1-2 kids
• Elephants ~ 645 days (over two years!). 1 calf (thank goodness!)
• Skunks ~ 66 days. 2-10 kits
• Squirrels ~ 35 days. 5-6 kits
• Water Buffalo ~310 days. 1 calf
• Llamas ~ 330 days. 1 cria
• Porcupine ~210 days. 1 porcupette (or baby)
• Opossum ~ 12 days (so short). 3-20 joeys (but unfortunately few survive)

Written by: Lisa, RVT, Practice Manager