Is my cat pregnant?

Bog Butter

I think my cat is pregnant. She is pretty plump looking. Are there any other tell tale signs?

Sigma Force

Probably is pregnant perhaps take a trip to your vets and have her spayed if she's not too far along the vets will do it. Otherwise you will end up trying to pay out for vaccinating a bunch of kittens and then trying to find good homes for them with owners that will spay and neuter..many owners leave it too long and your cats kittens could easily be caught out as you may have been and the cycle continues.

fiona stephanie

when my cat was pregnant, the first thing i noticed was the weight gain aroung the stomach area. i also noticed that she wanted to cuddle into me more! other then that there was no other signs! the vet will tell you quick enough anyway. good luck

PinkTulips

is the weight gain mostly around her tummy?

do you have other cats? if so a sure sign is if she gets incredibly narky with them, lol.

how old is she?

BlackCat2008

What age is she ?

A kitten can become pregnant from 4 months on, you not only notice wieght gain around the tummy but the texture of her coat will change which is hard to tell if she's under a year old as it changes alot to take on the adult coat, she will be washing her tummy alot and looking to be comforted as she's not sure whats happening to her.

If she's had kittens before and you have other cats she'll either keep wash the heads of them or be very stroppy with them.

If she's far along you'll feel them moving, I would take her to the vets just to be on the safe side if she's not to far along they'll neuter her which is best and if she is then you'll get the advice you need to look after her and the little one's, you will need advice if this is her first litter, it is high risk and even if all go's well with the birth, she could reject them if she gets a fright and then your on to hand rearing.

What ever the situation make sure the end result is neutering, if she has kittens she will need to be neutered 6 weeks after the birth.

Bog Butter

Well no kittens yet but she is quite fat now; she has to be 'up the duff'. This will be her first (and last) prenancy. Yeah it was the tummy area where I noticed the weight first by the way. I read that a cats pregnancy is 65 days. I'd say they come along soon!

Call me Socket

Did you not bring her to the vet when you had suspicions a month ago Malman?

Bog Butter

No, I thought i'd let nature take its course (or maybe i'm just a tight Meathman). I'm going to keep at least one and I have a taker for one more.

The Sweeper

Well, have her neutered six weeks after she has the kittens, but keep them together and with her for between eight and 12 weeks. (Cat's learn a lot of manners from each other in the first 12 weeks - like how much teeth and claws can hurt.)

Whether you keep a male or a female, have it neutered before 16 weeks - it has no effect on the size it'll grow to, and you'll ensure your pets don't contribute to the unwanted cat problem.

Hope she only has two kittens, and not five...

Call me Socket

Plenty of people seem to be looking for kittens on the board at the mo, so finding them homes probably won't be too much of a problem for you Malman.... The vaccinations and worming doses are expensive enough though- my pocket really felt it when I forked out for 5 kittens, and then spayed the mother soon after. Ouch. Had to be done though....so I also hope your cat only has a nice small litter of 2!

Bog Butter

She gave birth last night or early this morning. I knew she would go last night because she was in discomfort and you could see the kittens bulging out of her side. She is a small cat, less than a year old. I have not seen the kittens yet. She gave birth in such a place within the shed that I can not see them.

PinkTulips

is she hissing at you? if not you should be able to get close.... probably a good idea to move them into the house if they're outdoors, they're at risk from other cats, rats, foxes and all sorts if they're outdoors.

if you pick up the kittens while she watches and carry them into the house she'll follow them in.

Bog Butter

There is no way I can get them without a lot of disruption. She gave birth inside a trailor tent. So I will leave them alone for a while.

Call me Socket

Congratulations Grandad!!!:D
At least the weather is mild enough....I wouldn't leave them too long though or they'll end up feral with no early human contact. Maybe in a couple of days root them out and set them up in a large box that will offer loads of space to the mother as well.
How is the mother? She seem well?

Bog Butter

Thanks:) I never thought about that. I will give them a couple of days and then i'll try and root them out. They will have to be introduced to the dog as well (English spanial). She is cracked but the new mam has no problem giving her a swipe so they should be OK.

The Sweeper

Heh, the dog'll get more than a swipe from the cat if she has kittens. I'd hold off on that introduction for a few weeks yet, she'll try murdering him!

As others have said, check out both the cat and her new kittens sooner rather than later. If she's a very new mum, young cats can have problems with their first litters, including abandonment and even killing them. You need to get the kittens out and install them indoors in a big box with their mom and lots of food for her and fresh water. Also make sure she looks good and happy in herself - there can be quite some time between the first and last birth when a cat has kittens so you need to make sure she's done!

She'll need to eat much more than usual while she's nursing the kittens to ensure she can keep her milk and they can keep drinking as long as possible. Many of the good quality kitten kibble products are also suitable for nursing queens, but it's a good idea to leave her a dish of kibble and a dish of wet cat food at the same time, along with a dish of water. (Try not to buy anything fish-based in terms of the wet food.)

You'll also need to spend time with her and the kittens, and when they start getting mobile, you need to start handling them (don't over-handle when they're at the small, mewling, blind stage, lest she decide 'if you like 'em, that much, YOU nurse 'em' and gives them up). Be prepared to get scratched a lot, but don't lose your temper - tiny kittens have claws like acupuncture needles, and it's instinctive for them to have them out in play and while exploring. The tamer they get, they'll be all over you, and as soon as they slip the claws will go in...

The Sweeper

PS: Do not, at any stage, offer the cat or kittens cow's milk! If she stops feeding for any reason, you'll need to go to the vet and get a suitable formula and then try weaning them early, but cows milk could make them very sick indeed.

wolfpawnat

Minesajackdaniels has given great advice, however I had a cocker spaniel that was a hyper and overly playful fella and he went and sniffed my cats kittens and just went and saw them as part of the house. Though all encounters with the kittens should be well supervised!

The only thing I can saw also is please take the kittens in from the shed as soon possible. My cat had hers in the spare room, while we were in rented accomodation with all our boxes, beds, wardrobes and eveything in the room, it took me 7 hours to get them out and my cat actually seemed happy to have them in the back kitchen when i was done! It also took me 5 hous to put the lot back in the spare room. Inconsiderate little buggar! My only day off in 24 days!:) She then bunked them in with my dog and her pups (kittens were only 4 days younger) they all lived in the same fruit box! Dogs and cats who know each other for life will get on with each others young.

PinkTulips

what callmesocket said is dead on, i've dealt with kittens who weren't socialised early enough and it's like handling spitting, hissing mobile cacti.... i still have scars!

move them inside and then don't handle them again for a week or two as until their eyes are open and they're looking around it can be a bit scary for them and they don't usually appreciate it.

honestly, as long as you show her what you're doing she won't mind, chances are she's regreting where's she's had them as she'd prefer to be in the warm and dry with her food close by. i've had 2 seperate feral queens happily allow me to handle their kittens and move them to safer locations so chances are your own cat that knows you and trusts you won't be at all upset.

congratulations btw, do you know how many she's had?

Bog Butter

No I don't know how many she had. I can see the mother as I peer through but I cannot see the kittens. I can hear them though. There is no fear of her abandoning the kittens yet. She hasn't moved from the nest all day as far as I can see. She has food and water but it doesn't seemed to have been touched.

Thanks for thanks usefull advice Minesajackdaniels. I appreciate it. I shall make preparations for gaining access to the kittens tomorrow.

Bog Butter

http://www.knowyourcat.info/info/humanandcats.htm

Just done a bit of research.

Added together the results showed that the kittens which had most to do with humans between 2 weeks and 7 weeks were the most socially adapted.

I shall take note!

Call me Socket

You're really getting into this aren't you?
Good for you!:)

Bog Butter

Have a look at the new arrivals.

PinkTulips

awww, they're gorgeous malman, that one peeking out from under her belly has a lovely face

they look really strong and healthy too, she's done well. have you attempted moving them yet or are you leaving them there for a little while? must say, she picked a comfy spot by the looks of it!

The Sweeper

AAAAAAAAAAAAH TABBYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

...sorry - out of our five full-time cats, all five have stripes somewhere, we're suckers for a tabby in this house.

They look good!

Bog Butter

Yeah I moved them into a box and she put them straight back. But I have access to them now so it's no problem. I will leave them for the rest of the week and I might move them indoors.

Bog Butter

and one more

PinkTulips

aaaawwwww

Call me Socket

OMG Malman, they're too cute for words!
Really gorgeous!

bronte

Cuteness overload! Look at the lickle baby paws. Mum is gorgeous too!

Bog Butter

Have a look at the male kitten at 4 weeks.