Another litter or spay/abort?

If anyone is familiar with pregnant cats,maybe you can help me. The foster I'm taking care of had a litter of 5, 11 weeks ago, kittens are in another foster home. I'm supposed to wait until mommas milk dries up before I can fix her. She's been apart from her babies for about a week. I was looking at her today and her belly just seems very big. I know she's full of milk so that could be why, but, I'm also wondering if she's pregnant, which would be a nightmare! Although cute kittens are a plus, homeless cute kittens are not. She's rather traumatized already being indoors and away from her babies but a vet trip may be in order. I know you can't tell by a picture, but, just curious what you all thought. I guess it takes cats a while to get their pre-pregnancy stomach back like it does people??

parisinthe30sx said:

If anyone is familiar with pregnant cats,maybe you can help me. The foster I'm taking care of had a litter of 5, 11 weeks ago, kittens are in another foster home. I'm supposed to wait until mommas milk dries up before I can fix her. She's been apart from her babies for about a week. I was looking at her today and her belly just seems very big. I know she's full of milk so that could be why, but, I'm also wondering if she's pregnant, which would be a nightmare! Although cute kittens are a plus, homeless cute kittens are not. She's rather traumatized already being indoors and away from her babies but a vet trip may be in order. I know you can't tell by a picture, but, just curious what you all thought. I guess it takes cats a while to get their pre-pregnancy stomach back like it does people??

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Hmmmm. If she's full of milk it's going to look more like a droopy belly hanging between her legs. Could she be pregnant? Has she been outside or in a house with any un-fixed toms?

I think a vet check might be in order. If she has been apart from her kittens for a week but is still producing milk there is also a risk that she'll develop mastitis. Best to have the vet take a look so you know for sure.

Norachan said:

Hmmmm. If she's full of milk it's going to look more like a droopy belly hanging between her legs. Could she be pregnant? Has she been outside or in a house with any un-fixed toms?

I think a vet check might be in order. If she has been apart from her kittens for a week but is still producing milk there is also a risk that she'll develop mastitis. Best to have the vet take a look so you know for sure.

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She's been inside only since I trapped her, but before I caught her I did see a couple Tom's. We have a lot of stray cats in my area(I live in the country) there's a couple I haven't been able to TNR yet. I haven't manipulated her nipples to see if there is milk, she's still pretty scared, I just assumed there was since it's only been a week. (i don't know much about pregnant cats) she rubs up to me and let's me pet her but that's it so far. I Did look when she laid down and her nipples are still pink, not black and blue or discolored at all. She's acting completely normal otherwise. I'm starting to think she's pregnant because the little bulges are on either side of her. But God I hope not, hard enough finding a foster for her four kittens.vet here I come, poor thing, she's friendly but very scared.

Unfortunately, my take on her would be that yes, she is almost definitely pregnant and since we all know how many wonderful cats and kittens are homeless and losing their lives for this reason, if I were the one making the decision and could entice her into a carrier, she would go to the vet "yesterday" and be spay-aborted.  

Tarasgirl06 said:

Unfortunately, my take on her would be that yes, she is almost definitely pregnant and since we all know how many wonderful cats and kittens are homeless and losing their lives for this reason, if I were the one making the decision and could entice her into a carrier, she would go to the vet "yesterday" and be spay-aborted.  

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I agree. I have an appt tomorrow for her to be seen,I know they said to wait because of her milk and the complications that can arise, but, some times there isn't any alternative, I'm still hoping she's not pregnant but if she is she will be spayed asap

So my vet came to my home to see Esme, (to try and save me a little money, she's a great vet) she did some palpitations on her belly and looked her over and she's said Esme is definitely pregnant and pretty far along in her opinion. I'm in a quandary now. I would feel awful spaying her when the kittens are fairly far along. Have any of you been in this position before? I just don't know what to do.There's so many homeless kittens/cats out there and the thought of bringing more into the world Is just terrible. But the thought of aborting kittens that are very far along is just heartbreaking. At this point I just don't think I can do it. What a dilemma

parisinthe30sx said:

 I just don't know what to do.There's so many homeless kittens/cats out there and the thought of bringing more into the world Is just terrible. 

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They're coming and they will most likely be adorable. What's terrible is when they're born feral and they aren't cared for. When we rescue and foster kitties we take the terrible out of it. 

I look forward to seeing adorable kitten photos in the future.   

parisinthe30sx said:

So my vet came to my home to see Esme, (to try and save me a little money, she's a great vet) she did some palpitations on her belly and looked her over and she's said Esme is definitely pregnant and pretty far along in her opinion. I'm in a quandary now. I would feel awful spaying her when the kittens are fairly far along. Have any of you been in this position before? I just don't know what to do.There's so many homeless kittens/cats out there and the thought of bringing more into the world Is just terrible. But the thought of aborting kittens that are very far along is just heartbreaking. At this point I just don't think I can do it. What a dilemma

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Oh no, I'm sorry to hear this. 



It is an awful decision to have to make. I've had to spay-abort several of the cats I TNR'd. It breaks my heart every time, but I know it's for the best.

What will happen if she does have the kittens? Are there places in a shelter for them or can you foster them until they're old enough to be re-homed? If it's a case of the kittens probably being PTS because there is nowhere to go I'd go with the spay-abort. If you can arrange for them to go into a shelter I can see how you'd be tempted to let her have the litter, but as you say it is really difficult to re-home them.

We're here for you, what ever you decide to do.

Well, I wouldn't put them in a shelter, I would foster them until homes are found.But that would be taking homes away from cats already in a shelter. I'm just at a loss, not really sure what to do. I felt the kittens moving around already, if she wasn't far along I would spay/abort but the thought of aborting almost-ready-to-be-born kittens just breaks my heart. I just don't think I can do it.so hopefully I'll be able to find them homes. I caught her and her four kittens about two weeks ago, her kittens are probably about 11 weeks old now. I was really lucky to find a foster home willing to take them, this time I think I'll be on my own.I feel like a horrible person bringing more kittens into the world but I just can't bring myself to abort them since she's so far along

parisinthe30sx said:

Well, I wouldn't put them in a shelter, I would foster them until homes are found.But that would be taking homes away from cats already in a shelter. I'm just at a loss, not really sure what to do. I felt the kittens moving around already, if she wasn't far along I would spay/abort but the thought of aborting almost-ready-to-be-born kittens just breaks my heart. I just don't think I can do it.so hopefully I'll be able to find them homes. I caught her and her four kittens about two weeks ago, her kittens are probably about 11 weeks old now. I was really lucky to find a foster home willing to take them, this time I think I'll be on my own.I feel like a horrible person bringing more kittens into the world but I just can't bring myself to abort them since she's so far along

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Very few of us accept to abort when you begin to feel  the kittens move.  I think  most of the pro-abort-spay draw this line. But you must know, kittens dont manage to be born much too early, unlike human babies. So they arent able to survive for quite some time as yet.   I mean, this border-line decision isnt that horrible as it would be otherwise.  Unpleasant but no catastrophe, they arent able to live as yet.

So, if you feel you must after all, so dont have bad conscience.  But do it ASAP if you do. Every day costs heavily.

On the other hand, being barely noticeable she is preg  that late, when they typically looks alike they swallowed a basket ball at this moment barely being able to move, hints its a small litter.  so with a little luck, you may be able to find them homes.   Or adopt them yourself.

Momma is a prettie.

And you are a true Mensch.

I am defiantly pro my cat got out in heat and came home have her spayed before you know really, but moving kitties would be to much for me[emoji]128563[/emoji] Good luck
Right now I have four 6 month olds cats because I didn't move fast enough ! So I understand[emoji]128527[/emoji]

Thanks for all the moral support and advice I really appreciate it.hopefully it's a small litter and I can adopt them out. I'd like to at least keep momma but I have six cats and three dogs, two of them with medical conditions(diabetes and epilepsy) I just don't think I can handle the expense of another cat. But if I can't find homes I'll try to make it work.though I think if I brought another cat into the house my top kitty princess might kill me in my sleep.she still hasn't forgiven me for bringing in a stray 6 month old kitten(found the owners and they decided they didn't want her anymore, poor thing) I live in the country, foothills of the blue ridge mountains. people are constantly dropping off animals into my neighborhood, some people are just awful.

That's awful that folks dump kitties that happens here too! We have 8 because of the kittens. Do you let yours outside I think I lost one this week to coyotes and it is heartbreaking even with the full house; so her babies are going to be indoor only but it is a lot of litter[emoji]128527[/emoji]

I'm so sorry about your kitty that's awful do you know for sure an animal got him or has he maybe just not come home yet? I'll keep him in my prayers, I'm sorry
We have tons of coyotes in my area too.my property seems to overlap part of their territory it seems. I put a little fenced in area in my backyard to let my dogs out at night, didn't want to take chances. Luckily they seem to ignore me. The only time one came anywhere close to me was to steal one of my dogs tennis balls. I never let my cats out for that reason though. I have too many foxes,bears,coyote ect near my house. There are a few tomcats I haven't been able to TNR yet, one has been around for two years, (he's too smart for traps) so far the coyotes haven't bothered him, I hope his luck continues until I can finally trap him.

Thank you for caring for her. I would not be able to terminate the pregnancy at this point either. We'll be here for you! [emoji]128522[/emoji]

Esme started having heat symptoms earlier. It was so strange because she was treading her back legs, rubbing her face on everything and rolling around. She also had a little bit of clear vaginal discharge which freaked me out a bit lol, I guess an ultrasound is in order. Can pregnant cats have heat signs? The only other pregnant kitty I had was another stray, and she didn't act like that at all. Esmes nipples are still pink and big as well. I'm super confused lol maybe she tricked us and she's not actually pregnant, which would be a relief.! I'd post a video of her odd behavior but I'm not quite sure how. The heat signs came on pretty suddenly, this morning she was completely normal!

parisinthe30sx said:

Esme started having heat symptoms earlier. It was so strange because she was treading her back legs, rubbing her face on everything and rolling around. She also had a little bit of clear vaginal discharge which freaked me out a bit lol, I guess an ultrasound is in order. Can pregnant cats have heat signs? The only other pregnant kitty I had was another stray, and she didn't act like that at all. Esmes nipples are still pink and big as well. I'm super confused lol maybe she tricked us and she's not actually pregnant, which would be a relief.! I'd post a video of her odd behavior but I'm not quite sure how. The heat signs came on pretty suddenly, this morning she was completely normal!

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yes, even pregs can have heat or at least, heat alike symptoms.  Not the most common, but not at all unusual.

Why, they can even get pregnant anew, carrying two different litters simultaneously, and with any luck, delivering them all healthy perhaps 3 weeks apart.   One of my neigbours had a cat from such a second litter.

I tried to get some photos but she never sits still.



She was not impressed with her new toy

She may be close to delivering. 

StefanZ said:

yes, even pregs can have heat or at least, heat alike symptoms.  Not the most common, but not at all unusual.

Why, they can even get pregnant anew, carrying two different litters simultaneously, and with any luck, delivering them all healthy perhaps 3 weeks apart.   One of my neigbours had a cat from such a second litter.

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Wow! I had no idea that was even possible, that's crazy. You learn something new everyday.