Mother cat reabsorbs kittens - advice please

Hi, I took in a stray 7 month old female, who was wandering the streets, hungry and with an infected paw (claw injury). I began seeking vet treatment immidiately on her paw (anesthesia, surgery, anti-biotic shots) and began to get her vaccinated and dewormed.

Some two weeks later she began showing signs of a very rounded belly, and was eating a lot... Suspecting pregnancy, I took her back to the vet for an ultrasound, and he did confirm that she was about 4 weeks pregnant - (not ideal to bring yet more kitties into the world, but I was most concerned about the effects of the anesthesia, anti-biotics and vaccine that she had had!)

I rang the vaccine manufacturers, and found out that she had NOT been given the live vaccine, which was a relief, and the pregnancy seemed to continue as it should...

Until about yesterday, or the day before.

Strangely, she has shrunk! Her rounded belly has gone (almost completely today) and she now looks like a normal sized cat for her age. Her appetite has slowed down. And she might be licking (her bits) a little more than normal today, but other than that no signs of distress or illness. She is acting normally, playing like a 7 month old, energetic kitty would, and seems fine.

So, my first thought is that she has reabsorbed her kittens. I've read that this can happen, but I would like to know if this is what it sounds like to anyone who has experienced it.

Also, if it IS a failed pregnancy, should I be worried about her health and well-being? I know opinions on a forum arent' the same as a vet... but my vet is shut until morning (and it's only early evening here). As I said, I am not worried at this stage as she is acting, eating, sleeping and playing as normal.

However, if anyone knows anything about reabsorption I'd appreciate it. There's not much on google about it (or maybe I'm putting in the wrong search terms?) Is there anything you should / shouldn't do with a cat that has reabsorbed her kittens? Will she have an abortion or still give birth to anything that's left over? Or will she have to have an operation to make sure it's all removed? So many questions! I'd appreciate any advice.

Thanks.

Well, as you mentioned, she is acting fine and eating etc so there's no huge worry at the moment. That said, if the vet could see fetus' on the xray, I find it amazing that she could reabsorb them that far along but I'm no vet/scientist.
You are positive she hasn't aborted anything? She might have hid to pass them, under a bed, in a closet?
I recently had a foster that aborted four kittens. They didn't know she was pregnant and immunized her. She was obvious, with bloody discharge throughout. (it took several days to pass all of them) She didn't clean herself at all, where as some cats are vigilant about it and you might not notice the discharge.
I would just relax til you get a vet appt and see what he says. Perhaps another xray is in order?
Good luck!

I agree, dont panic. Do observe, but dont panic as long as she is apparently fine.
Absorptions can surely occur, but it happening all of a sudden? In just one short day?
Nay, I dont believe this.
Either did she had abortion, or the tummy sunk down as if often does shortly before delivery.

If the vet hadnt confirmed fetus, I could think it was false pregnancy.

Observe, be prepared, take it easy, when the vet opens agian you can contact and ask. You can begin with phoning - she is his paying patient, so you do have the right to get some phone advices.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by Levi68

if the vet could see fetus' on the xray, I find it amazing that she could reabsorb them that far along but I'm no vet/scientist.

Click to expand...

The OP said they had an ultrasound done. You can't really see kittens that early with an x-ray because they don't have proper bones yet, but the kittens can be seen in an ultrasound.

I agree with everyone that if she's acting normal I wouldn't be too worried. Just try to make sure she didn't give birth to stillborn kittens. A vet check would be in order though if you want to be sure.

Resorbing the fetus/litter takes place early to mid first trimester - the mother will ultrasound as pregnant around the next heat cycle after a confirmed breeding and next test, nothing. At 4 weeks, she aborted somewhere and cleaned up her mess. Resorbtion and spontaneous abortion at this time of year is farily normal for cats - it is getting winter and pregnancy and nursing are harder on them. The same seasonal thing happens with livestock bred too late in the season - first trimester pregnancies often fail unless highting and temperature are closely monitored.

For the record, the word is resorb, cant remember if the root is Latin or some ancient language for to take back