Signs of early pregnancy

OK, after the scare Kiera gave us with her lethargy and refusal to eat and drink for 4 days, I wasn't too worried about whether or not she was pregnant.

Now, she's feeling MUCH better. Back to her old self - even though I've only know her for 9 days ! (she's a foster) I'm back to wondering if she is pregnant ! (can you tell I suck at "wait and see" )

The vet that saw her at the SPCA said she was probably pregnant (which is why she ended up with us - the foster family). 5 days later I brought her to the vet because she wasn't eating and the vet could feel she had an enlarged uterus but could not feel any foetuses in it. Her nipples are quite big (as big as my other foster mum who is nursing her litter) but I guess that's not always a good indication.

I scoured the net to find the sequence of events: when do nipples become enlarge (the net said anything between 1 week to 7 weeks - very helpful!), when can the vet feel enlarged uterus and then foetuses ? Which come first ?

Is she is not pregnant, she is supposed to return to the SPCA to be put up for adoption - I guess that's why I am so curious and quite impatient about this ! Why can't it be as simple as peeing on a stick !!!

Thanks for your help ! (and letting me ask the same question over and over!)
Julie

well, just keep her for a month and see if her belly starts getting big. It should start to enlarge by the time she is 4-5 weeks prego and soon after that you should be able to feel the kittens moving inside.

Someone who is experienced with this sort of thing (possibly a vet, vet tech, or breeder) will be able to tell if a cat is pregnant by around 2 weeks. At that point, the embryos are still not much more than microscopic but the amniotic sacs are about the size of marbles and can be pretty easily felt in the abdomen.

Make absolutely certain that anyone who attempts to palpate the babies in utero is an expert and knows what they are doing. You can harm the babies if you don't.

~gf~