Possibly pregnant cat lost appetite?

gibbly · Jul 1, 2012

One of my cats is (possibly) coming up on being about 5 weeks pregnant (I say possibly because I'm not entirely sure if she is, I had a scare back in may where she looked as though she was gaining wieght and then nothing lol.)

she came into heat and escaped the house one night while I was bringing in groceries and was gone for 2 days, when she came back she was exhausted, hungry and no longer in heat, where as back in may she was also gone for 2-3 days, but when she came back she was still in heat for a further couple days) there are alteast 2 toms which are around here

anyways, the last couple days she's gone off her food(all three of my cats eat RAW and canned food, no dry), not stopped eating entirely but she's not as enthusiastic as she had been(her increase in appitite had been one of the biggest clues) I haven't had a chance to check to see if her nipples are pinking up because she hates being bothered lately -__-, and hates her stomache being touched in general

she's generally been lazy the last week or so as well, not wanting to go out, laying around ect.

some days she looks bigger (obvious bumps on both sides (bigger than she was when I had the first pregnancy scare) and other days she really doesn't and I'm used to simi-feral farm cats where you don't really worry about them until they show up skinny, I haven't had indoor kittens in about 10 years.

I just didn't know if this was normal for some cats, or something I need to start worrying about.

missymotus · Jul 2, 2012

What a shame she wasn't spayed after the first escape.

If she got out the second time at the very beginning of May she's due in a few days, some girls go off their food in the days leading up to birth. My cats are raw fed too, but pregnant girls get kitten food to eat as well so they can snack as needed.

Please don't let her outside, she needs to stay indoors, and cannot be let out until she's been spayed. You can do that at the same time as her kittens, around 10-12 weeks old.

catsallaround · Jul 2, 2012

Since it is too early for her to be going off due to having kittens in the next few days I think a vet visit is needed. You can go ahead with the spay now pregnant or not.

gibbly · Jul 2, 2012

"One of my cats is (possibly) coming up on being about 5 weeks pregnant (I say possibly because I'm not entirely sure if she is, I had a scare back in may where she looked as though she was gaining wieght and then nothing lol.)"

she's not due in a couple days, she's only about 5 weeks or so, which is exactly what I said, so I don't know where anyone is getting she is due in a few days?

As far as spaying her goes, as much as I know I'll get bad press for this, but it will not be happening, as I do not believe in it, I have had two cats die in the past both because of complications from being spayed (basically one started having seizures and the other got a massive infection) so I will not be risking my cats health with a completely unnecessary surgery

StefanZ · Jul 2, 2012

I wonder if she is unwell. Losing appetite and going "lazy", not even wanting to go out as she apparently does.

My guess is she has something. In best case some non dagerous virus, going over in a week or at longest 7 days. But it may be more serious too!

I would recommend you to consult your vet. Do phone at least.

I hope it is not crash emergency, but contact your vet as soon it is practically possible. It can be serious enough.

Good luck!

gibbly · Jul 2, 2012

Well, I tried feeling for kittens and *thought* I felt something, but I've always been awful at that, she feels kinda...gassy?? it didn't hurt her for me to mess with her belly, in fact she loved me up before biting me when I got on her nerves xD, I couldn't get her to roll over, but a couple of her nipples I felt felt enlarged, but the one I saw wasn't really pink.

I compared to her sister Paint whom I know isn't pregnant,(unless by osmosis) because her last heat cycle was over 2 weeks ago and she never left the house, as she's more interested in ME than tomcats when she's in heat o3O her nipples are smaller, but hers ARE pink -_-

I called another vet and the lady said that so long as she's at least eating something, and isn't sneezing and snorty then it's most likely the heat and she may go a little early with this being her first litter.

Once I roused her, she got up and started moving around, she's obviously uncomfortable about something, because her tail tip keeps twitching and Emry is a cat who never gets mad

orientalslave · Jul 2, 2012

Gibbly said:
<snip>

As far as spaying her goes, as much as I know I'll get bad press for this, but it will not be happening, as I do not believe in it, I have had two cats die in the past both because of complications from being spayed (basically one started having seizures and the other got a massive infection) so I will not be risking my cats health with a completely unnecessary surgery

Are you aware of the health dangers of not spaying? They are far greater than those of spaying. The main hazards are pyometra (infection in the uterus) and breast cancer. You also have a cat that is frustrated and when she is calling will be doing her best to be a Houdini. There are also the risks of pregnancy, possibly complications of delivery, mastitis (read a post from someone whose cat had really bad mastitis and ended up needing surgery) and of having to hand-raise tiny kittens if for some reason she can't. I'm not saying anything these thinks will happen, but they are real and they are removed by getting her spayed. And make no mistake, breast cancer and pyometra are both life-threatening conditions.

If she isn't spayed and she gets out, she will get pregnant.

You don't say where you live. I guess you might live somewhere that spay surgery is done very badly, but here in the UK it's almost unheard of to lose a cat (male or female) after neutering. Most of those that are lost here are the rare cats with a bad reaction to the anaesthetic.

Feel for you losing your cats like that, but really, truly, your cat will be better off in the long run spayed.

gibbly · Jul 2, 2012

I'm in the US, and yes here in this area Spaying and neutering is a novelty, usually done by humane society vets (free clinics) or really expensive vets, the only vet in town who doesn't cost an arm and a leg still uses metal staples to stitch up wounds from spaying and neutering, one of my past cats was a rescued stray who was 8 years old when I got her spayed (I'd known her since she was a kitten, and it took me eight years to gain her trust, and she was too smart for traps) anyways, she had complications due to the anaesthetic and within days of being spayed died after having a very violent seizure, the other was a 2 year old who died from a massive internal infection of her kidneys the vets said most likely as a result of the surgery

At any rate, yes I am aware of the health risks of keeping a cat unspayed, but I also think that so long as you keep an eye on them (i.e. not letting them get out each time they go into heat) then there is no reason to do such an invasive surgery.

I love cats, I wish I had the room for more, I don't even mind the two toms that come around, one of them is absolutely handsome, a big huge longhaired ginger mackeral tabby with pretty amber eyes

catsallaround · Jul 2, 2012

I know she is possibly 5 weeks I was saying it is not the normal not eating when they are about to deliver. Like if you came and said she is full term I would have said it is normal...being 5 weeks and not eating is not normal.

catsallaround · Jul 2, 2012

So your reasoning is you lost 2 cats and this one and any cats you further have will endure years of heat/kittens(she has already gotten out 2 times...sure there will be many more). What are your plans for the kittens she has? When did you have those 2 spayed-were they also in heat multiple times and possibly spayed while already sick ?

I think the responsible thing to do would be to surrender them to the shelter to have a chance at a normal non hormone filled life of peace. Or be euthanized before popping out litters.

I have had many cats done at clinics with no issues(talking dozens). I am sure it can't be that backwards all over. Call around and get neighbors or petstore shoppers advice on a vet.

orientalslave · Jul 2, 2012

Nothing wrong with staples to close a wound - they are commonly used in human surgery. And to be honest I never imagined a bit of the US so backwards that spaying and (presumably) castrating are novelties. But humor us - what bit of the US is this?

Right now you have two female cats, suspect you will have a lot of kittens and a lot of heartache and heartbreak in the future if you leave them entire.

catsallaround · Jul 2, 2012

Curious-the newest kitten was supposed to be a boy but is a girl-What was your plan for him when he started to mate with your cats?

gibbly · Jul 2, 2012

Just because someone does not spay or neuter their cats does not make them bad owners.

There are more purebred cats in shelters then mixed breeds, why? because purebreds have so many health and behavior problems.

yeah, I've been to a "reputable" breeder's house before who showed her cats, or whatever, semi-feral adult cats all over her house, dog crate after dog crate of kittens. she treated her cats like a business, instead of family members, and I know a lot of breeders do the exact same thing, and I don't think that is right.

I'd rather allow my own, healthy, friendly mixed breed cats to occasionally have kittens then i would spend 5-600$ for what is basically a mixed breed cat with a fancy title.

I know a guy who has a 15 year old female cat, who is intact, healthy as a horse, and guess what? has only had two litters her entire life =) one when she was three and the other when she was 6

Just because you have an intact cat does not mean loads of kittens, last I checked you need a male and a female, if the female does not breed she will not magically come up pregnant, she cannot hold sperm like a guppy, as I stated previously, you can control how many litters a cat has if you actually take the time to watch and make sure they don't get out, most people are simply too lazy.

I was told that Finn was a boy when I got her, I even checked and she looked like a boy, but she's a girl. Had she been a boy, she would have been neutered, because neutering is a much less invasive surgery than opening a cat's abdomen and removing a huge portion of their insides.

In the Eastern United States (West Virginia, Virginia, OH), nobody spays and neuters, especially in the country because it is not required.

missymotus · Jul 2, 2012

Gibbly said:
There are more purebred cats in shelters then mixed breeds, why? because purebreds have so many health and behavior problems.

yeah, I've been a "reputable" breeders house before who showed her cats, or whatever, semi-feral adult cats all over her house, dog crate after dog crate of kittens. she treated her cats like a business, instead of family members, and I know a lot of breeders do the exact same thing, and I don't think that is right.

Incorrect that there are more purebreds than moggies in shelters, it's statistically impossible. with pedigrees making up just 2-3% of all cats.

Crating cats full time is not the norm either with any breeders I know. And good breeders test for all relevant conditions, plus guarantee the health of their cats. Some also guarantee temperaments.

Anyway, the comments I made regarding her perhaps being due soon were also accompanied by saying 'if' she got out early May. You didn't say when in May, and based on her symptoms if she is near birth and you're incorrect on 5 weeks, then her behaviour is fine.

If she is 5 weeks, then a vet is needed as her behaviour is worrying.

Hope you are at least FIV, FeLV testing and vaccinating all kittens before they are rehomed

Perhaps you also missed the forum rules that encourage spaying/neutering all kittens/cats that are not part of a registered breeding program.

catsallaround · Jul 2, 2012

You said she has already gotten out twice - so you know that it can happen?

There are good and bad breeders-you never went to a truly good one. Look at cattery pages online, they are homes who happen to breed for quality after showing. They breed for type/health, not to make more xyz breed. Breeders who put the effort into it the right way don't make me mad at all. I would love to have a purebred cat someday but due to the amount of cats in need of homes that will not happen.

When you have as many cats as I do you would understand why I take my viewpoint. I have taken pregnant cats in, newborn kittens whom someone thought fit to dump. I get them spayed and neutered asap (8 weeks old when they bounce back to normal within hours of coming home).

Not spaying/neutering due to cost (not a great idea) is one thing - not doing it at all and waiting for her to get sick and need an emergency spay is another.

Why don't you just get males or spayed already females? Seems common sense on your reasoning.

gibbly · Jul 2, 2012

Catsallaround, I have had several cats, I lived on a farm for over 15 years, we had outdoor cats, we had females who had kittens, one litter a year, because cats who are allowed to raise their kittens to full independence (4-6 months, had one cat who even nursed her single daughter for over 14 months and never once came into heat until the daughter got pregnant with her own litter and separated herself from her mother) do not go back into season so quickly.

I happen to have rescued Emry and Paint her sister as feral kittens, both cats have been in heat at least 3 times since they were 9 months old, they are now just over a year, and only the one I am talking about here has ever gotten out, at least she hasn't been pregnant twice, and if this is what pregnancy does to her (if she even is) then I'll make sure she never gets out again, but that does not mean I have to get her spayed to do so, so I made a mistake and she got out, but I am not a god and I am not perfect, I am human, and can only do one thing at a time.

I even bottle fed a litter of abandoned kittens last year, been doing that for 11 years now

I have had male cats, and I'm not a big fan of them, nor am I a fan of adopting from shelters.

catsallaround · Jul 2, 2012

Main point in all this is call the vet and make an appointment to have some further testing done (make sure you find out if they have ultrasounds/xrays/whatever would be needed to save time and stress on the poor cat. Times have changed and they are finding new procedures all the time that make spaying a much easier and neater process.

jennyr · Jul 4, 2012

AS you will be aware, this thread was temporarily removed for consideration and editing by the Moderation team. This has now been done and I am returning the thread to this forum. Please do not complain if your thread has been changed - this has been approved by the whole Mod team. I have also taken the liberty of changing a few spelling errors to make posts easier to read.

Capital letters are equivalent to shouting. It should be perfectly possible to state your opinion, agree or disagree, without being rude or aggressive.

I would like to remind all members that the rules and policy of this SIte actively encourage spaying and neutering all cats that are not part of a recognised breeding programme. That being said, we also encourage debate about all aspects of cat care, in the interests of education and the sharing of experience. We must all be open to learning. TCS rules forbid flaming or any kind of unpleasant personal remarks, and these will be instantly removed by the mods, with the possibility of a warning or infraction issued against the member.

orientalslave · Jul 4, 2012

Gibbly said:
Just because someone does not spay or neuter their cats does not make them bad owners.

There are more purebred cats in shelters then mixed breeds, why? because purebreds have so many health and behavior problems.

yeah, I've been to a "reputable" breeder's house before who showed her cats, or whatever, semi-feral adult cats all over her house, dog crate after dog crate of kittens. she treated her cats like a business, instead of family members, and I know a lot of breeders do the exact same thing, and I don't think that is right.

I'd rather allow my own, healthy, friendly mixed breed cats to occasionally have kittens then i would spend 5-600$ for what is basically a mixed breed cat with a fancy title.

I know a guy who has a 15 year old female cat, who is intact, healthy as a horse, and guess what? has only had two litters her entire life =) one when she was three and the other when she was 6

Just because you have an intact cat does not mean loads of kittens, last I checked you need a male and a female, if the female does not breed she will not magically come up pregnant, she cannot hold sperm like a guppy, as I stated previously, you can control how many litters a cat has if you actually take the time to watch and make sure they don't get out, most people are simply too lazy.

I was told that Finn was a boy when I got her, I even checked and she looked like a boy, but she's a girl. Had she been a boy, she would have been neutered, because neutering is a much less invasive surgery than opening a cat's abdomen and removing a huge portion of their insides.

In the Eastern United States (West Virginia, Virginia, OH), nobody spays and neuters, especially in the country because it is not required.

I know quite a few breeders in the UK and no-one keeps their cats or kittens in cages - none of them have 'row after row' of kittens either. Their cats are family pets, and I for one would not buy a pedigree kitten from anyone where that was not the case.

I'm also wondering what the evidence for "purebreds having more problems" is.

The person with an entire cat that only had two litters had a very unusual cat, one who might have been subfertile. Left to their own devices most cats will have 2-3 litters a year.

As you say, it takes a male and a female - and males roam much futher than females, and are very good at detecting females in call. A normally-fertile entire female who goes out will get pregnant. Males will travel quite some distance to find them, several miles isn't unknown. Males roam far more widely than females to maximise their chances of finding a receptive female.

Finally, feeding a litter of kittens is NOT a reliable contraceptive. Many female cats will get pregnant again when their kittens are only a few weeks old. If they live in a cold climate then winter often brings a temporary halt to breeding, but the females will often have a couple of litters during the summer.

Possibly pregnant cat lost appetite?

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