My cat might be pregnant, and I have a few questions

Sarthur2

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Pregnant cat hormones are the cause of all sorts of interesting cat behavior. None of this sounds unusual. At some point she'll grow very affectionate! Just go with the flow! [emoji]128522[/emoji]
 
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ivashanko

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​Thank you so much! You are an incredible resource and have been a big help for me.
 
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ivashanko

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Hey everyone! Its been about a month since Corona might have gotten pregnant and I've been shocked that she hasn't really changed at all. After being scared all the time for just a day she's gone back to being her usual old friendly self. Her belly isn't any bigger and while I and others who have checked her out think her nipples are larger we can't be a hundred percent sure about it. Is it worth the money and time to go to a vet to double check if she actually is pregnant, or is that a waste?

She hasn't gone back into heat, but as I said her heat cycles are spaced really far apart so this isn't unusual and is only a weak sign that she might be pregnant.

Also, my roommate adopted a stray dog. He was just chilling on the road and jumped onto my electric bike and me and my roommate road him back home. My cat is doing alright with him, and the dog is incredibly okay with everything- hasn't made even the least threatening move towards Corona and tends to look away or just yawn even when Corona is hissing at him. The stray dog, Buddy, is taking well to the new home and seems to be accepting us as owners and friends, but I'm worried that the stress of having a new dog and the stress of maybe moving might be too much for little, potentially pregnant Corona. Also, if we had to move after she was pregnant what is the best way to transport the young kittens around?
 

Sarthur2

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Cats and kittens are easily transported in a cat carrier or dog crate. Obviously, inside an enclosed vehicle is safest.

If the cat and stray dog continue to live together, they will likely eventually become friends, particularly since you say the dog does not bother the cat.

You may want to wait another 1-2 weeks to see if the cat's belly begins to show. This usually happens around the 5th week. At that point, if you are still unsure, an x-ray or ultrasound at the vet would answer the question.

If she's not pregnant, she needs spaying, or she will eventually get pregnant. Please keep her inside for now so that doesn't happen.
 
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ivashanko

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She is entirely an inside cat, and shows no interest in going back outdoors. The second I find out she isn't pregnant (or after a certain amount of time with the kittens has passed) she's getting sprayed.

I hope they do become friends! That'll be too cute
 

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Spayed, not sprayed ;). In the US the vet techs get a lot of amusement out of people who want to "spray" their pets though I suppose since you'd be communicating with them in Chinese it won't really matter. But just to avoid any embarrassment :D.

The abortion rate in China is pretty high so I would think the vet wouldn't be bothered about a cat abortion. . .but who knows. Depends on the individual I guess.

Cats are pregnant for 9 weeks so after that long with no babies you're safe! I've heard of cats who didn't show any sign of being pregnant, right up until they gave birth, but usually it's pretty obvious after 6 weeks.

What kind of miscommunication happened that led you to think she was spayed? Do you think she may have had a tubal ligation or partial hysterectomy? She would still go into heat but be unable to get pregnant.
 
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ivashanko

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Spayed, not sprayed
. In the US the vet techs get a lot of amusement out of people who want to "spray" their pets though I suppose since you'd be communicating with them in Chinese it won't really matter. But just to avoid any embarrassment
.

The abortion rate in China is pretty high so I would think the vet wouldn't be bothered about a cat abortion. . .but who knows. Depends on the individual I guess.

Cats are pregnant for 9 weeks so after that long with no babies you're safe! I've heard of cats who didn't show any sign of being pregnant, right up until they gave birth, but usually it's pretty obvious after 6 weeks.

What kind of miscommunication happened that led you to think she was spayed? Do you think she may have had a tubal ligation or partial hysterectomy? She would still go into heat but be unable to get pregnant.
Spayed, thanks! I knew how to say that in Chinese but not in English I guess, kind of funny.

The vet wouldn't have an issue with it- I would, and many of my friends (and my girlfriend) would as well.

6 weeks is twoish weeks away, so I guess I will wait until then.

No, it was some other sort of operation. I think a pre-operation that Chengdu requires before a cat gets spayed, which I still find passingly odd
 

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Spayed, thanks! I knew how to say that in Chinese but not in English I guess, kind of funny.

The vet wouldn't have an issue with it- I would, and many of my friends (and my girlfriend) would as well.

6 weeks is twoish weeks away, so I guess I will wait until then.

No, it was some other sort of operation. I think a pre-operation that Chengdu requires before a cat gets spayed, which I still find passingly odd
That sounds very strange to me. Can you find out more about the pre-operation?
 

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Yeah, that's odd. I mean, there isn't really any kind of "pre-operation" that could be done. Unless they just took blood or something. But if they actually cut her open they probably did something in there. That's why I wondered if they did a tubal or just removed her uterus. Try to find out more about that.
 
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ivashanko

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I will then! I don't think its anything to worry about (I asked them before and said Corona was pregnant and they said its not a problem and nothing to worry about) but I'll triple check.
 
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ivashanko

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My certainty of my cat being pregnant has dropped today. She's making sounds and some motions like she's in heat. Its so strange since her nipples have swollen, she's gone from eating one bowl of food per day to three bowls a day, her tummy looks like she's pregnant, and she's been a lot more emotional and attached, and yet she's still making these noise.

Is there any chance she isn't pregnant? Does this sometimes happen to pregnant cats? Could it be that she's in pain or sick or something?
 

Sarthur2

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It sounds as though your cat may be experiencing pre-labor or early labor. It's been long enough for her to be due around now.

When was it that she was missing? August?

Keep us posted.
 
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ivashanko

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Late August. 21-28.

Pre or early labour? It seems at least a week, and maybe two, too early.
 

Sarthur2

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Yes, it is about 10 days early, which is why I said it may be pre-labor pains. These can occur in the days leading up to real labor as a way of preparing the body for birthing. This occurs in human women as well, and is called Braxton-Hicks contractions.

Cats become especially hormonal towards the end of pregnancy, which can result in needy, affectionate behavior. She needs comforting. Just keep an eye on her. She's heading into the final stretch. [emoji]128522[/emoji]
 
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ivashanko

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So there's no real chance that she's actually in heat and she isn't pregnant then? Again, thank you so much for the help, you are amazing
 
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ivashanko

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I ask because, if all the signs were just misleading me or she's reabsorbed the kittens, I should cut down on how much I'm feeding her.
 

Sarthur2

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Little chance of that. What size is her tummy? Can you post a picture of her tummy and nipples?
 
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ivashanko

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It is 11pm here and I have some stuff to do in the morning, but I will tomorrow. Her stomach isn't too big, but noticeably larger than normal, and her nipples are certainly swollen- no mistaking that.
 
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ivashanko

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She's gone through behavioral changes, and while her nipples did look a lot larger last night, she's mostly stopped heat like behaviors (it was on for a bit earlier today but has mostly ended now). I'm still not a hundred percent sure she's pregnant, but that might just be because I'm very excited for the kittens and don't want to be too disappointed.
 
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