how many kittens can cats have

Cats can have an average of 4 to 6 kittens per litter, but the number can range from 1 to as many as 12 kittens in a single litter. Some factors influencing litter size include the cat's age, breed, health, genetics, and whether it is the cat's first pregnancy. First-time mothers tend to have smaller litters, typically 2 to 4 kittens. Some exceptional cases report up to 19 kittens in a litter. Additionally, cats can have multiple litters in a year, often around 2 to 4 litters, leading to a potentially large number of kittens over a cat's reproductive lifetime.