Very Pregnant Cat

catnamedpanda

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So I rescued a pregnant cat from a high kill shelter moments before they were going to put her to sleep. I took her to the vet to get a wellness exam and to be tested for FIV/FLV because the only thing they do at the shelter is give them their rabies shot. I went on the 10th and the vet said it would be about 3 weeks, maybe 4 before I saw kittens. So she should have had them the 31st to maybe the 7th. Here we are on the 12th and still no kittens. I'm starting to worry there might be something wrong, she isn't producing any milk, she has zero interest in the boxes I have set up for her, and when I rest my hand on her belly I can not feel the kittens moving at all. But at the same time I am wondering if I am worrying too much because she still runs around and plays occasionally, she eats, drinks, and uses the litter box fine. I have been taking her temperature and it always stays around 101.5 so that is normal too. I have been debating all weekend if I should take her to the vet or if I am worrying too much and should give her some more time. I don't mind going to the vet if I should, I just don't want to spend $100+ if there is nothing wrong.
 

StefanZ

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Welcome to the Forums!

And tx for saving of this our sis!

You are in a dilemma without any real fire-proof answers. Where possibly only a visit to a vet gives a reasonable sure answer.
But he perhaps answers telephone questions? After all, you ARE his paying patient?

Although what can be told, is, we do have once and again such threads - belly big, any day, or even week ago, what to do...

The usual outcome the babies do come after several more days, healthy and well...

Better a couple days extra than too early. Cat babies are much more sensible than human babies for premature deliveries.

I suppose the wet was mistaking some time, this is no exact science, unless you make x-rays and things...

Another "rule of thumb" in such uncertain cases, is, if the mom seems contend and not stressed by pains, no raised temp, or so - usually you can wait and see. Although do pay close watch.
This is also if they get a long pause during delivery.

Im no vet, but forumists tells, if they do phone their vet, they usually gets this answer.

Peculiar this shelter doesnt have cooperation with a vet who is cheap - or at least, cheap for their protegees...
Many vets also do give price reduction for saved homeless.

Good luck!
*lotsa vibes*
 

levi68

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Personally, I think your worrying too much. Unless she is showing signs of an infection, like not eating, sleeping alot etc, I would relax. I can assure you the vet was not there when she conceived and was guesstamating her due date.
Not all queens will produce milk prior to birth especially if it's her first litter.
As for no movement...are you SURE she's pregnant? There's been more than once that a cat has been deemed pregnant and it turns out ... they are just fat!
You will know when she near to giving birth because her behaviour WILL change. She may run around meowing like she looking for something. (a good place to hide) She will dig up blankets. She may go off her food and her enery level decrease.
If there's one thing I've learned after years of fostering...no two cats are the same and you can't predict much!
I still laugh when I was sure this one mom was going to have a record amount of kittens..like 8 or 9 and she gave birth to 2!!! She was just really fat!

Good luck!!
 

Willowy

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I once took in a stray that I was absolutely positive was pregnant. She was huge, I thought she would pop any minute. So I took her home, and waited 3 weeks (no kittens) before taking her to the vet. . .he couldn't tell if she was pregnant, but said we might as well watch and wait. . .6 weeks later I had her fully vetted and spayed. Never any kittens. She just had a fat belly, partially from worms (eww) and partially from being fat. So maybe this kitty isn't even pregnant. But if she is, the babies will come when they're ready. Unless she seems to be in distress, she doesn't need to go back to the vet.
 
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catnamedpanda

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I took her to the vet today, because they said they would cut me a break to just take a look at her. Turns out she had a miscarriage and is reabsorbing the kittens, The vet had to reassure me that I didn't do anything wrong that it just happens sometimes. But she is getting spayed and she is going to be just fine so I can stop worrying. The plan was to adopt her out as well after the kittens were born, so I guess she gets to go to her new home sooner. Now the question that I am wrestling around with now is do I save another mamma cat from the same shelter even though I still have a all of my recent rescues who need to find their new homes. I have had adopters back out on multiple occasions. The nice warm completely set up walk in closet, where all the mother cats with kittens who come through here raise their kittens, is no longer going to be occupied. As much as I feel like it should be an easy decision to say bring them on, what happens if it takes me a while to find homes for the ones I have, let alone the new kittens and mom.

This is the little family I am struggling to find a way to save, they have a few more days maybe before they hit the dreaded list. But at the same time I don't want to wait to long to find a solution because the kittens risk getting sick every day they are in there. http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/20857697
 

levi68

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Well, I'm not a good one to ask questions like that. I'd save her. Looking at that pic broke my heart. I live in a small town and foster for our shelter but thankfully we are a no kill. I just brought home a mama and her four newborns yesterday...
 

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It's good to know the mom you had is healthy, even though she did lose her kittens.

This is the kitty you're looking for homes for?

Poor baby... I wonder if you could foster them? They are kittens, after all, and the cuteness is bound to attract some takers. The mom looks quite young herself.
 
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catnamedpanda

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That picture is of the mom I am trying to figure out if I can save because she is in a high kill shelter. I have 4 older rescued kittens 3 of witch came from that same shelter, there is a group down there that is good about making sure they hold them and don't kill them until I can drive down there as it is 2 1/2 hours from me. And I also will be adopting out the cat who just had a miscarriage after she recovers from being spayed. I am just debating with my self if it is the smart thing to do to bring in another cat and more kittens before I have homes for these guys. I really want to, I still have a few days before they are at risk of being put down to decide.

these two are sisters, they are actually the origional cat I posted abouts older kittens.



This is a cute picture of one of the twins



This is the mamma cat


This is a little tortoiseshell I rescued, she was skin and bones and only 5 weeks old when I rescued her



This last one is a little 6 month old girl that no one seems to want so far because she is older, but she is spayed and completely vetted so I'm sure it is only going to be a matter of time until she gets adopted.
 

callista

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Omigosh, orange kitty! You are right; she is beautiful and very appealing. Red females are a bit rarer than red males (about three in four red tabbies are male) so it is always a bit charming to see a girl with that coloring. She's got a very pretty little face. I so wish I had room for a third cat, but my shoebox apartment has only got enough room for two. Best of luck... what beautiful cats!

Regarding petfinder photos--go down to the "Fur Pics" sub-forum and look there; I think there are some photo guides. You've got lots of dark-colored cats and it can be so difficult to get their features to stand out on a photo. That tortie cat is such a cutie... if you can get her to lick her nose for a clearer picture, she'll be snapped up in a second!
 
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catnamedpanda

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I know the orange tabby is a special little girl, she actually has someone interested in her as of tonight. Keeping my fingers crossed that it works out this time. Thanks for the tip on the pictures, it is so hard to take a good picture of the dark cats. The black ones in particular turn into cat shapes with yellow eyes almost every time I take a picture. The tortie is a character she came to me starved so when I was trying to take pictures of her when she first came her, i think she thought the feather teaser was a bird and just licked her lips the whole time she was staring at it lol. She still grabs feather toys and growls while she runs around with them in her mouth, it is so cute. I'm just hoping the others draw some attention soon. That way I can not feel so bad bringing in another rescue, I wish the shelter I get them from did fosters, but they are all about space, they either need to be adopted or put to sleep so there is room for the next ones. So I have to adopt and rehome them myself if I want to save them. They don't even provide vet care there, the animals get rabies shots before they leave and that is it.
 
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