Took in a preg cat-worried about possibly inbred kittens

We answered an ad on craigslist... A lady said she " took in" a cat and it got pregnant, but she didn't want to deal with kittens...she was giving away this pregnant cat. We adopted it Saturday. It turns out that this mamma cat was actually their cat for four years, and had three prior litters! Two or three of her grown offspring also lived in the same home. I am having a hard time understanding how someone could give away their pregnant family pet of four years, and it occurred to me that it's very possible that she is pregnant by her own offspring?! We Already love her and will keep her (and spay her!) but I am wondering what we might see as far as health issues with the kittens? We were planning on keeping one and have found good homes for the others already. Thanks for your help and advice!

There's no real way of knowing unfortunately. If she was indoor only then it is likely that there is some inbreeding. If she was indoor/outdoor, who knows? I am so glad you took her in and will be spaying her. Poor girl, to have had so many litters. I wonder how old she is.

Inbreeding can magnify good AND bad traits in an animal. Breeders have inbred animals for years to get a specific trait or characteristic that they want. Chances are the kittens will be fine, but you may want to talk to a vet about it. I think a lot more bad things would happen if two of the kittens would breed, I hope they have at least spayed any other females they have! It sounds like she is very lucky to have found you for a new owner, I don't understand either how someone could get rid of a cat they have had for that long. Bless you for taking her in, may you have beautiful healthy kittens and many happy years!

Thank you both! She is super sweet and affectionate, and a very pretty torti. We are lucky to have her. The owner said she had gotten out, but who knows what's true or not since the story kept changing the mirr questions I asked. Keeping fingers crossed for good health for all!

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With a little luck there dont need to be visible problems with inbreeding.  Farm cats in isolated farms tends to be inbred.  The most usual is they get smaller. Gets also smaller litters, and so on.  So seldom drastical  damages at once...

Good you got each other.  a real win-win situation.

Her friendliness is surely in part, she knows she got a much better home now, and she is anxious to please herself in, for herself and for her children..

Good luck!

My black and white Cat is, I ask lady when I got him "oh is that his dad?' she said yeah and his brother from another litter. He is more affectionate than my other 3 cats but he also very naughty, he scratches me sometimes out the blue, he sometimes pops in the bath, he has to be put in other room when we eat as he just runs up to our plate, he often sits on top of the door! His eyes are slightly close together and he don't wash his face (my other cats do it for him) he sits on my chest and pushes his super soft fur on my face! I guess I'd say when he good he is purrfect but when he bad he is a monster