Phantom Pregnancy question

deejay0

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Dec 16, 2014
Messages
12
Purraise
5
Hi, I was asked to take in a young cat a few months ago. And I did.She appeared healthy except  she possibly has the feline herpes virus.   I have suspected the last week she was having a phantom pregnancy.  Last nite she went into typical behavour of wanting to hide and be secluded  (she got behind a memory foam mattress leaning against the wall and stayed there)  and today she has appeared to be herself again. However my main reason for suspecting a phantom pregnancy was the weight she has gained and how her sides are swollen too. Not just her belly.  There is no way on earth she can be pregnant she has never been out, I'm too careful with things like that,  not being sure if she was neutered or not I would never let her out.  I shall be getting her done within the next few weeks.  However, my question is, assuming I am correct and she has been having a phantom pregnancy, how long does is take when they have come out of it, for them to lose the extra weight?

The other things the last week she was in her tray pooping incessantly. She did have a little loose tools the beginning of last week but nothing prolonged or to feel worried about. A day or so they were normal again, but she was in her tray going every two hours sometimes more. Last  nite she went four times in five hours.  Is that kind of normal with a pregnant queen, phantom or not? Last nite also seemed to be the culmination of what I suspect is a phantom pregnancy too so it can be hard to sort what is what.

I have a vet appt tomorrow to get her checked over, as I can tell her anal glands are leaking, not sure if that could have anything to do with her pooping a lot or not.

~Deejay

Proud momma to Meanie and Miney.(apples of my eyes)
 

tulosai

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
May 21, 2013
Messages
2,018
Purraise
330
Location
Amsterdam, Noord Holland
If you only took her in a few months ago, she could have been pregnant when you got her, and that might be what is going on.  A usual cat pregnancy lasts around 66 days, give or take a few in either direction.  It's not impossible that this is what is going on, but the vet tomorrow should be able to tell you definitely one way or another.  Another possibility is frankly just that you are feeding her too much, especially now that she is an indoor cat and (most likely) getting less exercise than when she was an outdoor one.

Phantom pregnancy in cats is pretty rare but some of the more common signs are:
  • Behavioral changes
  • Non-pregnant female cat may show symptoms of mothering activity, nesting, and self-nursing
  • Restlessness
  • Abdominal distension
  • Enlargement of mammary glands
  • Vomiting
  • Depression
  • Loss of appetite (anorexia)
  • Brownish watery fluid or water secretion from mammary glands
Does your cat seem to have any of these symptoms other than possibly the abdominal distension? 
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #4

deejay0

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Dec 16, 2014
Messages
12
Purraise
5
Thank you for your reply. Sorry for the delayed response.

Well Miney is neither phantom pregnancy or real pregnancy lol she is pudgy.  It has become apparent she has food intolerance. And the outcome of that will either be losing weight or gaining weight. So many cats (and dogs come to that) cannot tolerate gluten, or wheat that the prescription diets which vets commonly use  but still contain both of those things are a joke IMHO. I have put Miney on Arden Grange, weight loss forumula. No wheat, no gluten etc.   Her stomach started behaving normally within two days.  The weight loss will follow now. :-) Miney is the little tabby in my avatar. Meanie is the Calico. :-)  (pronounced like Eeenie, Meanie, Miney and Mo. ;-))

The skin infections (in her nether regions) which is what I took her to the vet about have all cleared up nicely now too.
 
Last edited:

red top rescue

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 27, 2012
Messages
4,466
Purraise
1,486
Location
Acworth GA, USA
Thanks for the update.  I've saved that info regarding the good cat food and her response in case I need to advise someone else in the future.  BTW I totally agree with you about the prescription diets.  You can't really blame the vets, however, because they are not given good information in school, and Hills which was the first company to create prescription diets has totally monopolzed the vet schools and vet offices, so if you are not dealing with a cat specialist, you probably will not get any up to date dietary knowledge.  Mst of the vets I kow feed Science Diet products to their cats and dogs and swear they are the best products.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #6

deejay0

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Dec 16, 2014
Messages
12
Purraise
5
Another two to list (tho my cat prefers the Arden grange) is Acana and "Hills Ideal balance" Both are grain free (and both suited Miney's stomach)  the Acana however is also GMO free.  FYI.

Agree entirely about the vets. I have an excellent vet, the pet food industry reminds me a little of the pharmaceuticals with humans!

~Deejay
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #7

deejay0

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Dec 16, 2014
Messages
12
Purraise
5
I noticed this morning, Miney was walking around the garden with her tail to the side  (I have a garden cat fence which keeps them in the garden and other cats out, non electric its the design of it that makes it efficient)  And since she was in the garden, this am, there has been a queue of cats on the fence. So now i am wondering if she does need neutering. So now I am back to wondering about the phantom pregnancy. Is a cat who has a pseudo pregnancy attractive to males during that time?

~Deejay
 
Top