Pregnant Cat Questions

I am currently caring for a cat that I believe is pregnant, but I have a few questions. First of all, she would be 65 day today, and her nipples are still tiny and white. There does seem to be excess, or baggy skin around them. Do some cats just not get pink nipples until the kittens are born? What I am more concerned about, is that I do not feel the kittens moving. About a week ago, I thought I felt something, but it is hard to be sure. She does have a hardness to her belly, and it used to feel lumpy, but it doesn't feel as lumpy as it used to. Do you always feel movement of kittens, or is it possible to not really feel them and still have a healthy pregnancy? Is it possible that the kittens may have moved closer to the birth canal and that is why she feels less lumpy? Is it possible she could be having a false pregnancy? She has not shown any signs of labor. She sleeps most of the time, and really only gets up to eat, drink, use the litter box, and maybe look for a little affection. I made her 2 birthing boxes, and she did check them out last night, but she didn't seem to be nesting. Should I be concerned, or am I worrying over nothing. I really need to ease my mind as I am driving myself crazy over it. Lol

Please know that I am fostering all kitties until they find furever homes, and yes, Mama cat will be getting fixed asap. Thanks for any help.

Have you seen kitten movement? At 7 weeks I saw kitten movement in my cat

No. I'm not sure if I would see kitten movement, because the Mama is a fluffy cat.

Best bet is take her to a vet xx

Even if she is acting fine? So, I take it that it is abnormal to not feel the kittens kicking? I was hoping it was okay, because I took care of another prego kitty a few years back, and I don't remember ever feeling her kittens move, but they were all just fine. Darn! This makes me sad. I will give the vet a call.

Hun don't give up hope all cats are different x she's eating and drinking which is great . Try and get to see vet then you can be 100% she's ok and the kittens . Better to be safe than sorry

I am really worried now. The vet said it is possible to not feel the kittens move, especially since I don't touch her tummy often because I didn't want to make her uncomfortable, but there still could be something wrong. The problem is that I can't get her in until Monday. She doesn't show any signs of distress, is eating, and going to the bathroom fine, and purrs when I pet her. She looks and acts content. I am really hoping that means she will be okay. If she shows any signs of distress, I will see if the animal ER will work with me, because they charge about 6 times more than the vet would. I will post any new developments. Wish us luck.

If she's near the end of her pregnancy, the kittens don't have as much room to move, so you might not be able to feel them. Also they normally "drop" lower in her belly as they get into position for birthing, so she won't look as big in terms of bulging sides. Could that be what you're noticing?

It's hard not to worry, but if she seems calm and normal, she's probably okay.

for an easy birth with no problems.

I was wondering if that could be what it could be, but I wasn't sure, so of course, the more I kept reading and researching, the more unsure I got. It doesn't help that my boyfriend started insisting that we should be able to feel the kittens. I don't know why her nipples didn't turn pink, but she is getting very saggy under there, like maybe she is producing milk and it just isn't leaking yet. I had a cat years ago, that never got pink nipples, or produced any milk until she was actually in labor, so I was wondering if that could just be a full time mom thing. All I can do is keep watching her, but it is hard not to be worried! I am going to drink a grapefruit beer, because now I am worried, that my worrying, will stress her out. Lol
Please keep your fingers crossed, that she goes into a smooth, natural labor, very soon.

Arvada said:

I was wondering if that could be what it could be, but I wasn't sure, so of course, the more I kept reading and researching, the more unsure I got. It doesn't help that my boyfriend started insisting that we should be able to feel the kittens. I don't know why her nipples didn't turn pink, but she is getting very saggy under there, like maybe she is producing milk and it just isn't leaking yet. I had a cat years ago, that never got pink nipples, or produced any milk until she was actually in labor, so I was wondering if that could just be a full time mom thing. All I can do is keep watching her, but it is hard not to be worried! I am going to drink a grapefruit beer, because now I am worried, that my worrying, will stress her out. Lol
Please keep your fingers crossed, that she goes into a smooth, natural labor, very soon.

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Unclear case here!   Everything is possible, both a false pregnancy and a "quiet" pregnancy, with nipples not turning pink and kittens movements not easy to notice.   Both these happens, although its not the common.

My guess its false preg, but  we cant be sure.

I think its just to prepare for every possibility,  and wait and see.   If nothing happened to monday, go to the vet for the final check up.   If the check up shows it was false pregnancy, let him spay her if he agrees.

That's the plan. I would be relieved if it was a false pregnancy, or if it was a normal healthy, but just quiet pregnancy. I just don't want to find out she has dead kittens inside her. That would be awful.

Any news ?

Yes. Sorry, I forgot to update. She had a false pregnancy, but everything is fine now, and she is in good health and can be spayed now. So great news, and I feel a lot better. Now if only I could do something about my city laws! I love helping cats, and trying to do my part, but it is illegal here to do TNR, and also it is illegal for the shelters to foster out animals. The shelters consider feral cats, or even kittens over 12 weeks, unadoptable, so it gets hard. There is a feral cat colony that lives in my neighborhood, and if I were to feed them or provide any care or shelter to them, the Humane society wouldn't even allow me to bring in their kittens. I do the best I can, to just keep an eye out, and if I can trap any kittens young enough, I can socialize them, and then turn them in as strays. (They have a policy to never put down a stray unless it is injured beyond medical intervention.) At least I have been able to save a few, and either find them good homes, or turn them in if they are young enough. I'm glad that the shelters here have a great success rate with adoptions. I will continue to do my best to help in the few little ways I can. Thanks to all who helped easy my fears and get me through the long weekend.

Arvada said:

Yes. Sorry, I forgot to update. She had a false pregnancy, but everything is fine now, and she is in good health and can be spayed now. So great news, and I feel a lot better. Now if only I could do something about my city laws! I love helping cats, and trying to do my part, but it is illegal here to do TNR, and also it is illegal for the shelters to foster out animals. The shelters consider feral cats, or even kittens over 12 weeks, unadoptable, so it gets hard. There is a feral cat colony that lives in my neighborhood, and if I were to feed them or provide any care or shelter to them, the Humane society wouldn't even allow me to bring in their kittens. I do the best I can, to just keep an eye out, and if I can trap any kittens young enough, I can socialize them, and then turn them in as strays. (They have a policy to never put down a stray unless it is injured beyond medical intervention.) At least I have been able to save a few, and either find them good homes, or turn them in if they are young enough. I'm glad that the shelters here have a great success rate with adoptions. I will continue to do my best to help in the few little ways I can. Thanks to all who helped easy my fears and get me through the long weekend.

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Tx for the update!

If you wish, visit also our subforum for Strays and Ferales.  There are a lot of people who are engaged in these questions.  Although in most places the City Fathers are wiser then some others...  But there are every variations, and lotsa of possible solutions...   You had found one of them, there may be others too...

Good luck!

Thanks. I will check it out. I am always wishing there was more I could do. I am such a softie. I am always rescuing animals when I can. It drives my boyfriend kind of crazy. Lol