Pregnant cat?

My cat Sophie is 10 months old and i think she's pregnant. 

She had a few weeks of trying to get out as much as possible and spent alot of time outside. I know there is a tom going about that has got alot of the neighbours cats pregnant.

I've been trying to do as much research as possible so i know how to care for her.  I had a rabbit once who managed to have 2 babies where they all died so i am very nervous about my cat having babies.

In the past week her belly has got noticably bigger and i'm sure i can feel lumps in there. I've been trying to keep an eye on her belly and how it feels and i think it's feeling different to last week. Her nipples are quite long but they've not changed colour.

She also seems to be very careful with herself when lying down. Her appetite had increased but has slowed down again. She has always been a very loving and affectionate cat. She cuddles with me at night. 
 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Any cat over 4 months old, not spayed and has been outside is almost certainly pregnant. It's not healthy for her to be pregnant so young but I guess that's done and past., and by now it's a little late for a spay/abort.

Feed her as much as she wants, wet food is best. If you give her any dry food, kitten kibble is more nutritious. The best thing for her is to get her to the vet for prenatal care, the vet should be able to tell about how far along she is and can give you advice about how to care for her and the kittens. Also get his/her emergency number in case the birthing doesn't go smoothly. Testing for FeLV and FIV would be a good idea since you don't know the health status of the tom(s) who mated with her.

Caring properly for the kittens will be VERY expensive. They'll need to be de-wormed a few times and get their first shots. They should eat as much kitten food as they want, and will go through litter like crazy :tongue2:. Ideally they should stay with their mother and siblings for 12 weeks. It would be nice if you could have them spayed/neutered before finding them new homes, maybe there's a low-cost spay/neuter clinic in your area. If you can't have it done first, make a contract with the new owners that they'll have it done in a timely manner. That way there won't be any more accidents. It will be very hard to find good homes for the kittens--be sure to screen potential adopters carefully. There are a lot of not-so-nice people out there.

And be sure to keep her inside until she's spayed! Cats can get pregnant again very soon after giving birth.

Hi, thanks for replying.

I'll go get her kitten food. Should i get her wet and dry? She eats dry just now and wet about once a week.

I'll also get her down to the vet asap to get her checked and to book her in to get spayed. 

She is still quite playful. Should i worry about her harming her kittens while she is jumping about. 
 

Also i have an 8 year old, 3 year old and 1 year old. I've tried explaining that there could be babies in the cats tummy and they're not to lift her anymore . How easily could they hurt her and her babies if they pick her up?

Wet food is MUCH better for cats, so as much cat food (kitten food maybe) as she can/will eat.

I wouldn't worry about the cat hurting herself when playing; that said, if she tends to jump, I'd close the windows.

I've never had children or been around them much, but were I you, I'd only let the children be with the cat under your direct supervision, and definitely not the 3 or 1 year old.

Finally, the kittens/mother should be isolated from your children for a while; the mother cat will be VERY territorial and may perceive your children as threats (that goes double for any other cats you may have).

every time the kids go near her i immediately say to them to leave her. she doesn't want much to do with them just now.
however, she has become very attracted to underneath my little boys bed so i've blocked it of. i'm going to make her a nest in my bedroom as the kids never go in there so its always very quiet and there is a table she can hide under to have her babies. it's big enough that i could get in to help her during labour if she needs it.

i'm so worried about her after the horrific experience of losing all the baby rabbits within 5 days. really want to have as much knowledge as possible

Sophiesmamma said:

She had a few weeks of trying to get out as much as possible and spent alot of time outside. I know there is a tom going about that has got alot of the neighbours cats pregnant.

Click to expand...

Perhaps you can educate your neighbours on the importance of spaying, both for reducing kitten numbers (there are more than enough moggies in the world already) and for the cats health. Print up an info sheet and drop it in their letterboxes, also find the boys owner and make sure he gets neutered.

There are no guarantees with kittens, but do read all you can before the birth, a few links:

http://www.fabcats.org/breeders/infosheets/breeding_from_your_cat/felineparturition.html

Do read up on hand raising as well since your poor girl is so young

http://www.fabcats.org/breeders/infosheets/breeding_from_your_cat/felineparturition.html

Talk to your vet about worming her since she's been allowed outside, she will also need to be FIV and FelV tested in the coming months. You can spay her, along with her litter at around 10 weeks old. 

Here is a picture of her this morning. 


This is her about 6 weeks ago

Thanks missymotus for the links. lots of useful information in there.

Unfortunately the area i live in i think handing out information sheets would not be appreciated. But i will only be rehoming the kittens to people who will def spay/neuter. I have a few friend and family who are interested in taking a kitten so i'm sure they'll all be rehomed to good people

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=1+2138&aid=893

http://www.peteducation.com/category.cfm?c=1+2138

She doesn't really look pregnant. When did she get out?

about 5-6 weeks ago

Well she REALLY doesn't look 5-6 weeks along! You and she might have lucked out and the mating didn't take (if she did mate while out there). I'd recommend getting her in for a checkup to be sure. But she should be looking like a furry basketball with naked nipples if she were 6 weeks pregnant.:lol3:

Not necessarily, I've had girls who've not lost their nipple hair until after kittens are born, it's really not a sure indicator. 

While she doesn't look round, she may be having a small litter. Best is to get the vet to check her out, and if not pregnant spay her asap and don't let her outside until it's done (if at all, indoors is much safer)

she's quite fluffy so it was hard to get a picture properly. she definatley has a much bigger tummy than a few weeks ago. her nipples are also longer but haven't changed colour.

i'll get her to the vet for a check up asap

ok so need some advice. sophie has went off her food and has went back to her normal size in a few days. she has developed a wiggle when she walks. she's really quiet and is currently cleaning her bottom area alot! also noticed her vulva twitching

i had sorta thought she might not be pregnant with her tummy going down again but i was looking into phantom pregnancy and birthing.

if she is having a phantom pregnancy. how do i help her?

Has the vet seen her?  If so, how long ago and what did he or she way?  If she's not been, or not been for some dayts, suggest you take her.

If she is having a phantom she can be spayed as soon as it is finished.  You look to be in the UK so hopefully your vet will have an ultrasound scanner and can see what's really going on inside her.

no we didn't see the vet as she looked like she was back to normal. is there not any way i can help her immediately to feel better? she doesn't seem very happy

Going off food, licking her goodies and the babies dropping down (often appearing not pregnant) are all labour signs

However if she doesn't have them in a day or so I'd vet her

ok i'll get her a box ready just incase.

if there are no kittens i'll def get her seen by a vet. quite worried about her

ok so last night at around 9pm Sophie suddenly started getting very restless and kept wandering around. She kept lying down on her tummy and raising her bum up. She seemed quite distressed and was making loads of noise. She wanted me near her all the time and would follow me around when i had to do something. 
I've made her a nest in my room but she isn't really interested in it. (I can't allow her to be anywhere else as my baby is crawling and my 3 year old loves cuddles with her. they stay out my room.)

She is a bit calmed today but is still making loads of noise. Have a vet appointment for her tomorrow if there is no kittens. Getting her spayed asap. It's really heartbreaking watching her

That sounds like a cat calling rather than a cat about to give birth...  Let us know what the vet says.