Pregnant cat?

Hello!
I took in what appears to be a pregnant mama cat on March 26th, I have had her for three weeks now. I am having a very hard time figuring out how far along she is as I know nothing about her except what I have learned by having her with us the past few weeks. I guessed that she was about 5 weeks when we took her in just by looking at her and her belly however I am second guessing myself, she would be 8 weeks now. She is a very sweet girl but very protective of her belly area so it is very difficult for me to attempt to feel around/look around her belly. From the short moments that I have been able to I have felt one or two small lumps in her upper/middle abdomen and soft pudginess towards the bottom, where it hangs down. I was able to catch a glimpse of her nipple, just one, and it's white not the pink that is normally expected in a pregnant cat. She does the normal nesting behaviors and has searched out a few places, I have put a few bins out and prepared them for her. She has quite the appetite and walks with a waddle, her stomach is very noticeable, she is on the smaller side. I have attached a few pictures of her from when we first got her to now. I'm hoping to get some insight as to how far along she is, if she's even pregnant! We are planning on taking her to a vet to be looked at, I was just hoping to avoid the stress on her because she does not like to be picked up or be out of her comfort zone

I'm no expert, I'm on my very first pregnant cat experience but she looks pregnant to me. Her nipples don't look enlarged but her belly looks pregnant in the last pic with her laying on her back.

I've noticed that the pictures I take make her appear smaller than she is! I used to rescue feral cats and rehab them, I've rescued pregnant cats before and had no problem identifying how far along or even that they were pregnant but she is giving me a hard time! Her nipples are really throwing me off! Like I said, she gives me a very hard time if I try to touch her stomach so I was just able to sneak a peak of her one nipple today and seeing that it wasn't pink really threw me off, especially because of her size! I wonder if all pregnant cats have their nipples turn pink? How is your pregnant cat doing?

Mine is doing great! She is a torti named Rosie. I rescued mind 12 days ago. She should be having her kittens anytime. She's been losing her mucus plug since Tuesday and her milk came in a few days ago as well. I'm not sure about their nipples since this is my first experience. It really has me baffled also!! I'm anxious to hear what other experienced people have to say!

Mama was laying down on the bed in front of and began grooming herself so I took the opportunity and sat closer to her and watched her stomach for a good amount of time, I saw movement! She has a lot of fur around her stomach and this is the first time I have been able to sit close to her for this long, she will usually walk around or lay down in a position in which its hard for me to see anything. I'm not sure how long the movement has been going on for. She has been grooming herself a lot today and has been walking with more of an uncomfortable waddle than normal. She's still got quite the appetite though! I know that most Queens lose their appetite leading up to labor but is it possible for some to keep theirs? She loves her food!

It's definitely possible! Mine is so close to delivering and she's eating like crazy. Like tons!! I also had someone else on here tell me their cat ate right before she delivered her first kitten and in between kittens!

Aside from the large belly, are there other things that lead you to believe she's expecting? To me, a big belly but normal nipples would make me think infection or false pregnancy. But I could be wrong. Just unusual is all! [emoji]128522[/emoji]

Krissy Marissy said:

Aside from the large belly, are there other things that lead you to believe she's expecting? To me, a big belly but normal nipples would make me think infection or false pregnancy. But I could be wrong. Just unusual is all! [emoji]128522[/emoji]

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She's exhibiting other pregnancy signs such as her behavior. I am able to touch her stomach here and there but not for long, there are hard lumps. Her nipples are longer, just white still. I read about a few incidents where they can remain white so I'm very curious to hear everyone's inputs, but that's what is really throwing me off. We are making a plan to take her in to see the Vet, I'm just worried about causing her stress especially if she is pregnant!

She's more than likely pregnant. Not all pregnant cats have really pink nipples. An x-ray at the vet will tell you for sure! [emoji]128522[/emoji]

I played with her this morning and was able to distract her enough to move the fur around her other nipples, low and behold, they're pink! She was a stray so I'm wondering if she's appearing further along than she is because she may not have had much weight on her? I haven't felt the babies moving but she will only let me keep my hand on the side of her, not her actual stomach!

She does not look that big yet. Once you see or feel babies moving, they usually have 2-3 weeks left. She'll get a good bit bigger in that time. Is she eating kitten chow 24/7 and wet food 2-3 times a day? She needs all the nutrition she can get now. [emoji]128522[/emoji]

sarthur2 said:

She does not look that big yet. Once you see or feel babies moving, they usually have 2-3 weeks left. She'll get a good bit bigger in that time. Is she eating kitten chow 24/7 and wet food 2-3 times a day? She needs all the nutrition she can get now. [emoji]128522[/emoji]

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Yes, she's been on kitten food since I took her in! I've rescued many pregnant mama's before but it has been over 4 years since my last one! When I first took her in she had quite the belly ready, it's been 3 weeks now. How far along would you guess she is? I guessed she was 5 weeks when I took her in because she was already showing which would put her at 8 weeks now.

I really can't tell from a photo. I even took the pregnant stray I adopted last year to the vet for an x-ray because it's so hard to know. [emoji]128522[/emoji]

Ah! Perhaps that solves it. My Lizzy didn't pink up until day 24. Which is later than I thought it should. Perhaps this sweet girl is just on her own timeline too. She doesn't look that big in recent photos, but maybe it's a small litter?

Time will tell! [emoji]128522[/emoji]

I took in a stray mama cat and have no idea how far along she is, she was visibly showing when I took her in 3 weeks ago. Today she allowed me to put my whole hand on her stomach and keep it there for a good while, she normally doesn't allow me to do this! I felt popping in her stomach. Could that be the kittens?

I can only think of one thing!

kittens!

Congratulations! And keep us posted!!!

You can feel the kittens moving 2-3 weeks before the delivery.

There is one extra twich.  A couple of days before a possible delivery, most high pregs wants their caretakers to rub their tummy - its a nice massage, and physiologically, it helps the hormones going in the right direction.

So, in your case, I suspect its near now, just a few days at most.  And yes, do rub her tummy.  

If the kitty is about to have kittens, I suggest you start getting prepared!