How to tell if cat is pregnant?

Hi there; I recently took in a stray, and her two kittens. They are two months old and quite lively, and Mama cat is an absolute treat. However, I am really worried she might be pregnant again, and it's really hard to tell for sure. She has quite a big belly and swollen teats, but the babies are still feeding and she could have a big tummy from a lot of stuff (like being a recent mother). I know it is possible for her to be pregnant again, but not hugely likely given the timing. I have her booked in for a $10 desexing through my local animal shelter, but it's two weeks away. I know if you have a cat in the very early stages of pregnancy they will abort the foetuses with the spaying (this happened to a previous stray I took in), but if they're too far along I'm guessing they just won't spay her and she'll have to have the litter. I do not want more kittens  so if it's a choice between waiting for this $10 desexing or going to the vet and paying much more to get her done ASAP, it'll go for the expensive option because it'll cost me a lot less in the long run and it's generally the more responsible thing to do. But it is a lot of money and I'd rather not get it done so expensively if it's not necessary, so my question is: how do I tell if a cat, with a recent litter, that I don't know very well, is pregnant? 

Thanks for your time. 

Its not easy to know, if you arent very knowleable.  If you are knowleable and skillful at palpating, you can almost surely palpate the fetuses, if they are there.

If you cant, or dont know someone who is experienced and skilled, the only answer is a visit to a vet. who can do the palpating and perhaps even an ultrasound.  (X-ray is more costly, and not reliable in early pregnancy - the skeleton is coming up visible at about day 45.).

Is it possible the cheap vet may make a  palpation for a small money outside the queue, NOW? It takes just a minute for an experienced vet.

He can even take your protegée in between, while he goes aside to the mens/ladies room.

Perhaps even your regular, full cost vet may do it cheaply??

I do sympathise wholeheartly with your analysis.  She may be even in 6 weeks now.  BUT the surgery, although no longer a piece of cake, is still fully feasible and nothing difficult for an experienced vet surgeon.

I will paste in some links on how to find a cheap spaying clinic, if you need to find another one than this super cheap 10 bucks place.   I presume most of these spaying clinics are also villing to do other vet treatments cheaper than the average fashionable full cost vet.

In fact, at least one of our forumites confirmed it is so.  

Good luck!

cheap  spaying:
If you are in the U.S. ,  the ASPCA has an online database.  http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/spayneuter

 Or here is a hotline number that will find you a low cost clinic in your area  1-800-248-7729   

www.spayusa.org

I'm in NZ, and this $10 desexing is done by an organisation called the SPCA. They provide a lot of services in regards to animal welfare but the $10 desexing crew won't be offering other treatments, so it's out of pocket for other stuff. I hope she doesn't get sick a lot! But I will be putting aside money for her every month 'just in case'. 

I've moved to a new area, so no familiar vets for me to turn to. If it helps any she has quite a soft and squidgy tummy, as far as I can tell. She's gradually letting me touch her more and more. But I'm worried that if she is pregnant, she will be too far along by the time the 25th comes (that's when she's booked for the cheap desexing). The more I think about it the more I think I should get her done as soon as possible, and to heck with the costs. I'm fine looking after Mama - I fully plan on keeping her and can absolutely accommodate her - but I can't handle any more kittens right now. And since it's kitten season, the SPCA is so full up they have a waiting list to drop cats off with them. And since I have really only been getting to know her this week, I don't know what's normal for her in regard to belly size or behaviour and how that would change if she was pregnant. 

The vet cooperating with SPCA and alike organizations, are surely experienced with even very late spaying/abortions.

Its not nice, but its not so bad as it sounds.  Human babies are capable of surviving two months before the delivery, Even earlier if the medical care is good enough.  But not so kittens.  They hardly manage more than two days premature.   So, practically speaking, not before two-three days before the expected delivery they are kittten, before that thay are essentially fetuses, not capable of own life.

This means, even a late spaying shouldnt be problem, not medically and not really ethically either.

That said, I do agree with you its better to spay her now than in two weeks, if she is pregnant.

You perhaps know some dog owner or cat owner nearby?  Who can help you with palpation?

Look up the cat or even dog pure breeding "pedigree" associations in NZ (Google), Ask them if some breeder is nearby.   Most breeders are quite helpsome for strays, and people who help strays, as long as they dont demand too much.

The breeder will of course be afraid of contagions, so explain your mom is healthy as far as you can see, no fleas either.  The breeder can wash of her hands with desinficating alcohol gel before and after if necessary.   Or even a thorough wash with soap should be enough.

Such a breeder can perhaps also recommend you a good and not too costly vet.

Good luck!

I m pasting in a link for Australia.  I havent looked up if they have also the NZ - but Kiwis are often cooperating in many things, not only in Bridge!   

Thank you very much for your time and help. For reference this cat is about a year old, she would've got pregnant with her first litter when she was 8 months. This wouldn't have happened if she had been mine from the start, but the people who had her before me (a friend's neighbour) didn't look after her and basically abandoned her, so she was outside all the time, unspayed, in an area with a very large cat population. She is mine now and I am doing the best I can. She is kept inside at all times, and the only time I let her out is on a harness and lead, so she can't get out and about and I can keep away and randy tom cats. I just hope I'm not too late. 

If anyone else would like to post any more advice it would also be extremely appreciated! Thanks for your time.