Maybe pregnant? HELP

I brought in a stray cat eight weeks ago because she was meowing at my door every day for a week. We have suspected she was pregnant for a while because she was a stray. Since she came in she has ate and ate like holy cow like a horse. She snuggles the dogs. And she hasn't went into heat. I am pretty confused because she isn't showing any signs besides her belly being really wide. Her boobs feel kindof full but haven't gotten pink or swollen I can't see kittens kicking. She isn't showing signs of labor. But we've also checked her for a scar and even an ear tattoo cuz I read somewhere that if they've been fixed they might have those but if she hasn't went into heat she's either pregnant or fixed. I'm just wondering how I'm supposed to tell. I wish I could take her to the vet but if she does have kittens I can't afford the kittens shots and meds and a vet trip. Sorry for rambling on and on. I just need advice on how to tell if she's pregnant or fixed something to ease my mind I guess. I've read and read everything I can find about cat pregnancy on Google so I figured I should talk to an expert. Also in gonna have her fixed ASAP whether I have to take out a loan to afford her babies and get her fixed and everything lol. I'm not gonna be one of those people who just add to the cat population but I can't abort her possible pregnancy either I just love cats to much. I'm just trying to help this sweet stray kitty and need more info to figure out what's going on with her.

Well, if she is pregnant you'll know for sure in a week . A cat pregnancy is 9 weeks, so if you haven't let her out in those 8 weeks she would be nearly due. This far along, you really should be able to feel kitten heads or milk bags. I'm not sure if the vet would be much help, more of a wait-and-see kind of thing, I think.

If she isn't spayed and isn't pregnant, she might be a cat that has silent heats.

I am just so anxious. I have never heard of silent heats but that could be a definite possibility.

Oh and she lets me pet her and everything but as for a definitive feeling of her sides she won't stand for it lol

Have you let her out since you took her in?  If not she will have her kittens in the next couple of weeks.  If she hasn't been out and non arrive in the next 3 weeks take her for spaying.

You've got to assume any stray female cat is pregnant.  I would have taken her for spaying almost immediately.  I also love cats and I'd much rather spay/abort than see older cats in shelters 'put to sleep' because they can't get homes fast enough.

Since you have taken her in, I would call her your cat, not a stray cat.

Once the pregnancy situation is clear she will also need her vaccinations, hopefully she has been checked for fleas and treated if necessary, and as a stray she almost certainly has worms and treatment against roundworms should be given to her and any kittens when they are 3, 6 and 9 weeks old.  In the UK we can buy Panacur without visiting the vet, and it is effective against roundworms though not tapeworms.  Roundworms larvae can 'encyst' - become dormant inside a protective covering - and in that state roundworm treatment is ineffective.  However the hormonal changes of late pregnancy brings them out of dormancy and they can cross to the kittens in the mothers milk.  Faecal testing seems to be popular in the US, but the treatment is effective and very safe so in my view you might as well save your money for something that actually matters - like getting the mother spayed.

I already gave her worn meds and flea meds safe for pregnant kitties and yes she is definitely my cat now. She is sooo sweet. And no I haven't let her out that way I would know for sure if she was pregnant after nine weeks and am definitely getting her fixed. I am assuming she's pregnant but am just worried cuz she isn't showing any of the signs I've read she should be showing for being close to having her kittens. Other than being really wide at her belly. But I guess time will tell.

Well, I once took in a kitty I was sure was pregnant. Like ready to pop pregnant, I thought she'd give birth at any time. After 6 weeks and no kittens, I took her to the vet. He said he couldn't feel any kittens either and gave her a de-wormer. The de-wormer helped a bit but she still had quite a belly. I waited 3 more weeks and had her spayed. She still has a big tummy. I guess some kitties just have chubby bellies! :lol3:

Okay thank you that is also useful! (: thank you I would rather her not have kittens and just get her fixed but I also love kittens!