Is this cat pregnant? If so, how do I help her?

Question

Three weeks ago, my husband and I took in a poor cat off the streets. She was very thin (we could feel all her ribs and all of her spine). We took her in, got her food and water and warmth (it was a very cold, very wet night, so there was no way we were leaving her out, even with food and water). I put out a lost ad (no one has responded with a description that fits her), and we have named her Camoflauge.

Anyway, it's been three weeks. I've been away except on the weekends, and I've noticed that she has been fattening up a lot faster than other rescue cats I've taken in that were underweight (my last rescue took 6 months to get healthy weight back). Well, now I've moved in finally, and I've noticed that she is getting much rounder. Her nipples are also bright pink, and she is showing aggression about touching her belly.

This cat is pregnant, right? If she is, what should I do for her to help her. We will be taking her to the vet this week to confirm and for shots.

I've done many rescues, and helped many cats get back on their feet from living on their own. But the only experience I have with a pregnant cat was a feral cat that was the 'barn cat' on our farm growing up, so she pretty much took care of herself and her kittens without any help from us.

62 days...so, three weeks so far if she is pregnant (approx!), her delivery date would be somewhere around...the beginning of May?

Answer 1

You are wonderful people for rescuing a cat this way. I hope she proves to be a great pet.

She sounds so malnourished I am skeptical her kittens will be healthy, I hope so. She definitely could be pregnant but maybe she's storing up for the next storm. Taking her to a vet is the right thing to do. He'll be able to tell you how old she is and rather she's had a litter before.

If she's already proven a mother, don't worry about her - she'll know what to do. But do provide her with a warm place to whelp - maybe a box she'll be able to get out of but the kittens won't when they get mobile. If this is her first litter, do the other stuff but do try to be close when she goes into labor.

One of my cats did not like it the first time I rubbed his belly - not too much later, he would roll on his back and spread his legs to the four corners when I walked by. She may just not understand the bellyrub as a friendly gesture.

Good luck.

Answer 2

It is very possible she is pregnant, but sometimes it's hard to tell. Take her to your veterinarian for an exam. If she is more than 4 weeks along your vet probably can tell if there are kittens. Your vet can also vaccinate her (use a killed vaccine) so she and her kittens will be protected from the most common diseases. Most cats have no problem giving birth, but keep a close eye on her and provide a comfortable place where she can deliver (although often they will choose their own place, probably your bed :-) ).

Considering the number of homeless and unwanted cats in North America, and the millions of euthanized animals that are a result of that, please have your cat spayed after she has weaned her kittens (and right away if she is not pregnant), and make sure her kittens all go to homes that will spay/neuter them. Please follow up that they have indeed done that.

Thanks for caring for this kitty, and good luck in "labour and delivery". It will be lots of work and lots of laughs.

Answer 3

Yes she's pregnant.

You will need to feed her a good quality premium kitten food or queen food if you aren't already. Cats have increased nutritional requirements when growing babies and they can't eat enough of the regular food to get all they need (they get morning sickness, heartburn, kicks in the stomach all the things we women get when pregnant). Supplements are not a good idea as they can be toxic or cause damage to the fetuses. Kitten and queen food is the best method (don't use Royal Canin Queen, as there is some doubt surrounding it at the present time, breeders have seen a higher incidence of problems with kittens and queens, it's still being investigated) Other RC foods are fine though.

Cats shouldn't be vaccinated whilst pregnant so not shots until she delivers.

If you need help preparing for the birth or on what signs to look for or need help when she is delivering. Visit www.cat-world.com.au, there are many experienced members from all over the world, so there is usually someone there 24/7 who can help you. Some of them would likely give you their phone number so you can get help in an emergency and even come over to be with you for the birth if you need that kind of help.

Read up as much as you can about birthing a cat before the event and have everything ready in preparation. Start training her to a box, you can use old clothes etc in it so you can throw them away when she's birthed and replace with clean dry things. Ensure you find a warm quiet, secluded dimly lit spot for her to have them, cats like their privacy. Training her now will mean when it comes time for the birth she will be used to the box and you'll be able to find them easily. Sometimes despite all your best efforts, she'll have them in the middle of your new quilt or under your bed so be prepared for that!

Answer 4

yep, she's pregnant and you are going to be the angel in her life. I took a cat in from the rain almost 18 years ago this spring.. It was my first experience with cats.. I didn't even know if it was a he or a she. After one night I decided we were meant for each other and took her to the vet to be checked out.. He informed it it was a female, she was almost a year old, she was malnurished but that was no problem and
she had ear mites which could be easily treated.. Oh, and by the way, she's pregnant.. I totally freaked.. I "didn't know nothin' about birthin' no kittens".. Wanted to have the vet board her until they were born. He must have thought I was
crazy.

He assured me we would both be fine.. I had several weeks yet and she would take care of everything herself.. I just had
to keep an eye on her and watch if she sneaked off to closets and such.. "they like to hide when they give birth"..

A little over two weeks later she was acting strange. Sitting in
my lap, kneading my legs and stretching.. I suddenly reallized
this was not just a love fest.. She was in labor.. So much for running off to hide. This sweetie was having those babies right in my lap if she had anything to say about it.

I ran for the basket I had prepared for the great event.. Holding her under my arm and saying "wait, wait, wait".. Like
that would do any good.. The first kitten was delivered as i
settled her into the basket and I sat on the floor next to her for hours with her while the other two entered the world as well.

She was young and scared... the bond we created during that time was never broken. I had her spayed as soon as
possible after that litter and the two of us shared our lives
for 18 wonderful years.. Sadly, I lost her in January to renal
failure but she will always have her own special corner in my
heart. As a bonus, one of those kittens sleeps next to me as
I write this.

Answer 5

I think that she's pregnant, but take her to the vet to be sure. Some cats are sensitive about letting people touch them when they are pregnant. One of my cats used to be a stray and I took her in. she was pregnant at the time, she let me touch her belly only because she knew she could trust me. When she was giving birth, I wasn,t sure if she would let me be near her , but she let me. She even let me help her, which was a good thing because one of her kittens was breach, and I had to very gently help her deliver that one. All of her kittens came out healthy. I've had that cat for the past 5 and a half years and she's the most loving, coolest and the most fun cat. I even have two of her daughters. I think that is very commendable of you and your husband to take in and rescue stray cats. keep up the good work.

Answer 6

Thank you for rescuing this cat. You are such a wonderful person. I also rescued female cats before while I was working in Indonesia and when they got pregnant there was nothing I can do but prepare for their day of delivery. One kitten was so attached to me that she waited till I get home from work before she delivered. She wanted me to hold her paws while she pushes the kittens out. It was my first time to do that and I realized that there are really no difference at all for animals when it comes to critical situations like this. I can feel her paws sweating. I know she was so much in pain because she was looking at me all the time while she labored. It was a wonderful experience and at the same time scary for me. She delivered 3 cute kittens.

Answer 7

No there is not any threat to the mum's life using her brother being the father. each and every thing you would be able to desire to comprehend you may learn out of your vet. as nicely, you need to nevertheless get her spayed after which you will not ought to hassle some pregnant cat or kitten, yet it is as much as you. i could get her to the vet for a verify up and ask once you're there approximately looking after her whilst she's pregnant and elevating the kittens.

Answer 8

I would say that she is pregnant, but you do not need to do anything except be there for her and show her lots of love. She will look after herself. if there are any major problems maybe you should take her to see a vet.
I think that it is amazing that you have helpes so many cats they are adoring animals. we have 4 that we have rescued but we are not allowed to have more than 3 cats in a built up area.

Answer 9

well yes she is pregnant you see when mother cats get pregnant they don't like when someone touches there stomach because it is sore from the streaching of the skin just like if you got pregenant you would not want someone to constantly touch,poke and prod at your stomach either. the only thing you can really do is to keep her in doors and keep a wacthful eye on her. when the kittens are born do not touch them a whole lot because that will leave human scent on them causing the mother cat to eat them. it is very sad but it happens with most litters of cats. but you can keep her in comfort by not touching her stomach anymore. also if you have to you can pick up the kitten/kittens to clean the sack off of them, because with most mother cats first litters they don't know what to do.

Answer 10

Let mother nature take it course, when she ready she'll look for a place to hide. when she does' dont' interfear she could kill her kittens. Some cat dont' have the sense to take care of there young so you may have to hand feed them later. Al l else fails and you don't get the answer your looking for, take it to a vet. In fact you might do that anyway in case she has heart worms good luck