I can't tell if my cat is pregnant or maybe just bloated. can someone help?

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csparks99

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about a month ago I rescued a stray cat. I have no idea how old she is, but a couple of days ago I notice she was getting quite plump so I felt her belly and it felt firm and her nipples were a bit enlarged which made me think she was pregnant. if she is pregnant I have no idea how far along she would be, and I know I should take her to the vet but I don't have the money to right now. I have a couple of pictures but it's hard to tell. Could someone help?
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biancavd

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Are her nipples obviously pink? Can you feel or see any movement inside of her belly? Has she been in heat and able to go outside several weeks ago? Has her heat schedule stopped? (e.g. If she was in heat every 2 weeks and it suddenly stopped)

If her nipples are pink, then she's most likely pregnant. Nipples turn color around 3-4 weeks into the pregnancy. Her belly starts growing around 5 weeks into pregnancy. Around 7 weeks you should be able to see and/or feel the kittens move inside of her (This is not always, depends on the size of the litter).

As you stated you can feel her nipples well and she seems bigger, I would think she's pregnant, yes. Depending on the other answers, you should be able to determine around how long she is.
 
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Biancavd said:
Are her nipples obviously pink? Can you feel or see any movement inside of her belly? Has she been in heat and able to go outside several weeks ago? Has her heat schedule stopped? (e.g. If she was in heat every 2 weeks and it suddenly stopped)

If her nipples are pink, then she's most likely pregnant. Nipples turn color around 3-4 weeks into the pregnancy. Her belly starts growing around 5 weeks into pregnancy. Around 7 weeks you should be able to see and/or feel the kittens move inside of her (This is not always, depends on the size of the litter).

As you stated you can feel her nipples well and she seems bigger, I would think she's pregnant, yes. Depending on the other answers, you should be able to determine around how long she is.
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Her nipples are like a bubble gum color but that's how they were when I rescued her but now they're a bit bigger. The last time I let her outside was about a couple of weeks ago but I didn't see any signs that she was in heat. I can't feel or see any movement but her stomach is very firm. She has also been having diarrhea for a couple of days. I've had her for about a month now and when she first came here I felt that her stomach was big then too but it went away in a couple of days so I didn't think anything of it so she might've been pregnant when I rescued her.
 
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This time of year, if an unspayed cat has been outdoors it's almost certain she's pregnant :/. Raising kittens is very expensive if you take proper care of them. So if you can't afford a vet visit you may not be able to afford to care for the babies properly. If that's the case, please contact a rescue agency to see if you can get some financial assistance to make sure the babies get the best start in life. They may be able to help you re-home them when they're old enough, too.
 
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If she does happen to be pregnant , I'll make sure the kittens have everything they need and when they're ready, I'll take them to an animal rescue so they can find good homes. thanks for everyone's help.(:
 
biancavd

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csparks99 said:
Her nipples are like a bubble gum color but that's how they were when I rescued her but now they're a bit bigger. The last time I let her outside was about a couple of weeks ago but I didn't see any signs that she was in heat. I can't feel or see any movement but her stomach is very firm. She has also been having diarrhea for a couple of days. I've had her for about a month now and when she first came here I felt that her stomach was big then too but it went away in a couple of days so I didn't think anything of it so she might've been pregnant when I rescued her.
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It does sound like she's bloated. Was she properly dewormed when you got her and have you continued doing so?

It's still possible she's pregnant too, but as you said she already had a rather large stomach when you got her, she's currently having diarrhea and her stomach feels rather firm, I would say she has some intenstine problems aside from the possible pregnancy.
 
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I think she's pregnant. when I got her she was kinda big but not near as big as she is now. I'm gonna take her to the vet sometime this or next week to see if she's pregnant or not
 
biancavd

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csparks99 said:
I think she's pregnant. when I got her she was kinda big but not near as big as she is now. I'm gonna take her to the vet sometime this or next week to see if she's pregnant or not
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The thing is, if she already started showing when you got her over a month ago, she's due any moment. They usually start showing around 5 weeks, add up a month and you are at 9 weeks. Which is how long they are pregnant. You might not make it till next week to get to the vet.
 
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yeah I'll probably take her this week, and I'll keep everyone updated. thanks for everyone's help.(:
 
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Make sure you check with the vet before you give worming medication to her, most of them aren't safe to use on pregnant or lactating mothers. If you think she might have parasites either wait until her kittens are weaned or ask your vet to recommend one that is safe to use.

NEVER use the over the counter worming meds as they have caused fatal allergic reactions even in adult cats.

 
biancavd

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As a breeder, I would always suggest deworming them on week 4, 6 , 8 weeks and then a few days after the 2nd vaccination (so at 3 months). After that, they should be dewormed every month until they are 6 months old, then every 3 months (so 4 times a year). Specially if they are outdoor cats. This is the usual deworming schedule. If the mom does happen to have worms, you can give dewormer at the age of 2 weeks and include the mom as well. If all done at the same time it's best. So do not wait till they are weaned and take proper care of them.

Do ask your vet about the correct dewormer though, don't just give anything you find. Specially at 2 or 4 weeks, you don't want to risk giving them something badly. 
 
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