Pregnant or SICK??

Hi, my first post! I've been caring for a stray outside for about a year now. She had a litter last year under my neighbor's porch and brought them to my porch when they were old enough. I had scheduled to get her and her daughter spayed and have been keeping them in the house, but low and behold, momma got out and a couple of weeks ago her abdomen really got big and is getting bigger. She hasn't been in heat for about 2 months that i can remember. Last time she was, my neutered male tried to accomodate her lol. I tried to feel her abdomen & can feel hard lumps, but they don't move. she's also had terrible bouts of diarrhea...she just spurts which made me think she maybe sick and not pregnant. I read up on FIV and now I'm scared to death. Her abdomen is very swollen on the bottom and sides and her nipples are enlarged. If she had FIV would her abdomen be swollen on the sides as well as "pot bellied"? Or maybe she has worms? I'm financially strapped, so I can't take her to the vet, but I just can't throw her out (like my hubby wants me to) if she's preggers or sick. Any advice?? Please help, my first kitty pregnancy.

Contact these groups...perhaps one can help you get her fixed:

ILLINOIS...Low cost or free spay/neuter info and programs:








PrairieLand Anticruelty
Champaign IL
Quincy Humane Society
Quincy IL
217-228-1422

Knox County Humane Society
1855 Windish Drive
Galesburg, IL 61401
309-342-1275
www.misslink.net/kchs
Discount certificates for s/n at participating veterinary clinics.

Better Pets Clinic
Moline IL
309-764-5489
Low cost s/n for western Illinois and eastern Iowa area.

Quad City Animal Welfare Center
724 West 2nd Avenue
Milan, IL 61264
309-787-6830
Serving surrounding areas in Iowa and Illinois, Davenport, Bettendorf, Rock Island, Moline, East Moline, etc. Low costs for spay/neuter, tests, and vaccinations.

Anti-Cruelty Society
147 West Grand Avenue
Chicago, IL 60610
312-644-8338
Call for information and for requirements to set up an appointment for low cost s/n.

Bethalto Spay Clinic
Bethalto, IL
618-377-2420

Humane Society of Southern Illinois
Murphyboro/Carbondale area IL
618-457-2362 Once a month, they sell a limited number of vouchers for $35 each (at this writing) that the purchaser takes to a participating veterinarian for spay/neuter at no additional cost.

ARF (Animal Rescue Fountain Inc)
Glen Ellyn IL
630-469-4121

Homes for Endangered & Lost Pets
PO Box 972
St. Charles, IL 60174
630-879-8500
Information about services in the area.

Illinois Citizens Animal Welfare League
10305 Southwest Highway
Chicago Ridge, IL 60415
708-636-8586
Pets and ferals. Call for information and appointment.

Animal Welfare League (2 locations)
6224 South Wabash Ave
Chicago, IL 60415
773-667-0088
Pets and ferals. Call for information and appointment.

South Suburban Humane Society
1103 West End Avenue
Chicago Heights, IL 60411
708-755-7387
Call for information regarding participating veterinarians, etc.

Felines, Inc.
PO Box 60616
Chicago, IL 60660
773-465-4132

PAWS Chicago
Lurie Family Spay/Neuter clinic
3516 West 26th Street
Chicago, IL 60623
773-521-7729
Call for appointment. Low cost spay/neuter and low cost vaccinations, tests, Frontline, and Heartgard.

PAWS
Tinley Park IL
815-464-7298
Ask about participating veterinarians. Orland Park and Country Club Hills.

Humane Society of Winnebago County
Rockford IL
815-749-1400

Kankakee County Humane Society
Kankakee, IL
815-933-5999
Low cost spay/neuter for all pets.

Winnebago County Animal Services
Rockford, IL
815-877-3073
Low cost spay/neuter for qualified low income.

Stop the Overpopulation of Pets, Inc.
PO Box 1103
Dundee, IL 60118
847-622-4136
Provides discount certificates for s/n to be used at a participating vet clinic.

River Woods Pet Clinic
Lincolnshire, IL
847-634-0022
In cooperation with local humane organizations, low cost s/n for pets and feral cats as well as early spay/neuter of kittens as small as 2 pounds and as young as 8 weeks.

C.A.R.E.
PO Box 1964
Evanston, IL 60204
847-705-2653
[email protected] email


Lake County Animal Protection
Northern Illinois locations
847-740-3977

Thanks for the info...I have a rescue contact that helps w/the cost and does transport and had Grace and two others scheduled for speuters on 4/2. Should i just go ahead and send her? I guess they won't do it if she's too far along. Opinions?

Most vets will do the spay. it is YOUR choice and not something you should feel pressured into doing. Some people have real issues with it,and others who work in shelters, or do rescue and see the alarming numbers of cats being put down during kitten season, just have spays done whether or not the cat is pregnant. If you can provide a good place for the mom to have the babies, good food and vet care and will place the kittens responsibly than don't do the spay. If you can't if it will be hardship, then schedule the appointment.

It sounds like she is probably pregnant and if she was last in heat 2 months ago, she is likely to be very close to delivery. At this point, *if* you have juvenile spay/neuter available in your area and can have the kittens s/n at 8 weeks of age before sending them to their new homes (you can ask the adopters to reimburse you for the cost as an adoption fee), then it might be better to let her have her kittens. If there are no vets in your area who are willing to s/n young kittens, though, then I would recommend having her spayed immediately.

You definitely need to take a stool sample to the vet and find out what is causing the diarrhea. It's probably parasites but "spurting" diarrhea can also be a sign of other conditions, some of which are very dangerous to fetal and newborn kittens. If the stool sample turns up negative, I'd recommend asking the vet to run bloodwork.

I will definitely get in a stool sample by Monday. She actually had a solid poop today and I was overjoyed (little things make me happy). I'll ask the vet about treating the worms if that's the case. Saw on another thread that Strongid is safe. Still worried about her NOT being pregnant and just being sick. I'm a worrywart. Would illness stop the heat cycle? Definitely no heat since about 2 months back, she's very vocal. Is there anything i can give her for the diarrhea? I've given the dogs baby rice cereal, which has worked. She's still eating good. Will she stop eating when labor is imminent? She's a little lethargic now. Seems to have trouble getting around. Would the weight of the fetuses cause her to "spurt"? I've been pregnant four times, so I know what pregnancy can do to the bladder . I'll be much happier once i get the sample in. Thanks for listening to all my newbie questions!

Sometimes they do have problems with bladder and bowel control as delivery approaches. This is more likely if the cat is young and small and she is carrying a relatively large litter.

I'd say if she has been out of heat for 2 months and her belly is huge, the odds are in the neighborhood of 99.9% that she is pregnant and due to deliver any day now. Stranger things have happened, but as they say, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck - chances are it's a duck.

She is pregnant. I layed my hands on her abdomen and got kicked! The diarreha isn't getting any worse, but I hope to get a sample in tomorrow. Her daughter is a little sick too, but I just dewormed her, so maybe it's the meds. I've been keeping them isolated from my other cat, just to make sure. Should I remove her daughter from the room where she is? Is it ok for her to be there when she gives birth? I know males may kill kittens, but what about females. They still get along great, Grace grooms her, very sweet together. (her daughter is about 1, found her last spring with Grace). BTW, I've emailed about 10 shelters begging to take them...but it looks like I'll probably have the kittens here. I've gotten one response for more info. I really want to find these girls a good home.

Originally Posted by gsdgirl

BTW, I've emailed about 10 shelters begging to take them...but it looks like I'll probably have the kittens here. I've gotten one response for more info. I really want to find these girls a good home.

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Most shelters will be full and most rescues will be full of cats that were under fear of being euthanized. Sounds like you will have to place the kittens...but definately have the mom cat spayed afterwards...and if her other daughter isn't fixed...please have her fixed as well.

Katie

Originally Posted by gsdgirl

She is pregnant. I layed my hands on her abdomen and got kicked! The diarreha isn't getting any worse, but I hope to get a sample in tomorrow. Her daughter is a little sick too, but I just dewormed her, so maybe it's the meds. I've been keeping them isolated from my other cat, just to make sure. Should I remove her daughter from the room where she is? Is it ok for her to be there when she gives birth? I know males may kill kittens, but what about females. They still get along great, Grace grooms her, very sweet together. (her daughter is about 1, found her last spring with Grace). BTW, I've emailed about 10 shelters begging to take them...but it looks like I'll probably have the kittens here. I've gotten one response for more info. I really want to find these girls a good home.

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There probably are no shelters who have room to take her and who won't kill any of them. They're full to the gills. But if you ask them to let you foster everyone and use their adoption system to find homes for the kittens when the time comes, they are likely to be very amenable to that.

The first thing you need to do is spay the daughter NOW. It's very possible she's at the early stages of pregnancy and at this point, it is very important to prevent more kittens.

There shouldn't be any problem with letting her daughter be with her while she has her kittens. Actually, there's no harm with allowing a neutered male to be there either, but mama cats usually beat the stuffing out of any male cat who even looks at their babies so that's usually not an issue!

Just wanted to let everyone know that I found a shelter to care for Grace and her upcoming litter! They are also taking her daughter! I'm taking them in
Saturday! They are no kill and Grace will be housed at a vet until babies are old enough for adoption. They do their adoptions through Petsmart, where Sister will be - she's so beautiful, I'm really hoping she won't be there long. Let's just hope Grace holds out for a couple of days, she's very close. Thanks for your help!

Grace has just given birth to one kitten!!!!! Guess she couldn't wait. I NEED HELP!!! The kitten is just kind of bobbing around snuggling up to mommy. Should he be drinking yet? I've tried to put him on a nipple, but he keeps losing it. Should I leave her alone? How long before the next one?