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pregnant???

post #1 of 6
8/18/08 at 4:54pm
Thread Starter 
My brother brought home a stray about 2 weeks ago, and we're beginning to wonder if she's pregnant. Her nipples are large and pink and the fur has fallen off. She's also eating like a pig (even stealing my cat's food). We have a vet appointment for next week, but are not sure what to do until then. Her belly seems very sensitive (she hisses and runs whenever we touch it), and she keeps finding hiding places. She doesn't look huge or anything, but I'm not an expert on cat pregnancy. she was also pretty underweight when we got her (she looked to be about 6 months old), so that may have something to do with her not looking too big. She's just now regained a "normal" cat figure. There also isn't a visible tummy scar, so I doubt she's been spayed. Could she be pregnant? What can we do to make things easier for her?
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post #2 of 6
8/18/08 at 5:20pm
I'd assume she is until proven wrong at the vets, especially with her being a stray...
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post #3 of 6
8/18/08 at 9:36pm
(have been gone for a long time, but I thought I would jump back in here)

First of all, bless you for taking her in!
To answer your question, she absolutely could be pregnant. It's probably more likely than not, given what you describe.

My suggestions:

1) Awesome that she will be seeing a vet next week! They can confirm a pregnancy and check her general health. This is really important because you don't know her history.
2) If you have other pets, she should be quarantined in her own room at least until she is given a clean bill of health from the vet. For her protection, she may need quarantined until she weans her litter (if she is pregnant).
3) If she is pregnant, she needs clean water and food available at all times. A good quality kitten food is my suggestion. It will give her the extra nutrients she needs right now.
4) Please keep her indoors until she weans her litter and is spayed, she is really physically vulnerable while pregnant and nursing. You will be doing her the most important favor, even if she doesn't think so.
5) If she has fleas, wait until you see the vet to treat them, most over the counter flea treatments are not safe for pregnant queens.
6) If she seems close to labor, she needs a room with several nesting spots (there is tons of info about this here, just search the sticky threads at the top of the page).


Basically, she needs to be kept warm, safe and well fed. I would wait for the vets visit and then go from there. Good luck with her!

Oh, and I am not sure what you mean by 'she has regained a normal cat figure?' Are you saying you think she may have already had a litter?

I am sure others will come with more advice I haven't thought of.
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post #4 of 6
8/18/08 at 10:05pm
Thread Starter 
I mean when we took her in, she was so thin that she almost looked sunken. She's gained some weight and filled out a bit and now looks like a normal cat. We do have her on kitten food, the only problem is the dog keeps trying to steal it. The dog and my cat even knocked the bag over one morning and had a feast. Oh well. Lesson learned on that one I suppose.
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post #5 of 6
8/19/08 at 6:47am
Quote:
Originally Posted by casienjoy View Post
I mean when we took her in, she was so thin that she almost looked sunken. She's gained some weight and filled out a bit and now looks like a normal cat. We do have her on kitten food, the only problem is the dog keeps trying to steal it. The dog and my cat even knocked the bag over one morning and had a feast. Oh well. Lesson learned on that one I suppose.
I have a food raider too so put it away or this will be a daily event.

She may have already had a litter that did not survive or she left them or she is pregnant. The nipples pretty much confirm a pregnancy at one time or a false one.
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post #6 of 6
8/23/08 at 2:38pm
Best to err on the side of caution. I would free-feed her kitten food and try to give her some wet food too as she could be dehydrated (even with water available). Put it up somewhere high where the dog can't reach it, but she can.

Does she know how to use a litter box?
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