how many people................

junior67

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Ok how many out there took their cats to the vet and did the abdominal palpation done to check for pregancy?????

if you did how far along were they? was the vet able to tell?



reason I ask is I did some research on false pregnancies in cats and also on abdominal palpation and found this info:

1. found a TON of sites that said a false preg in cats is very very rare. unlike dogs


2. Abdominal palpation (technique of examining the organs and other parts of the body by touching and feeling). However, kittens can seldom be felt until at least 26 to 35 days after breeding and fetuses can be difficult to feel in some cats. ( Angel would be around 25-31 days (last day out to first day out))


3. at 28 days kittens are no larger than a small walnut(about 1 inch in size). at 35 days theya re floating in capsules of fluid and are more difficult to detect........ (so at 31ish days it may be harder to feel maybe????)


4. another one says that it is best between 3-4 weeks (abdominal palpation) and done between 4-6 weeks may yeild the least............ (she would be 4 weeks 3 days from first day out)




So wondering if maybe she was just that much further along that made it harder to tell???????? or if she is one that you can't really tell on.........

guess it is more waiting just wondering if others had this done and what they found out and how far along the kitty was...........
 

amyscrazy

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The first momma cat I took in (Adina) didn't need anything but a physical exam. At 5 wks pregnant their was no doubt she was pregnant, she had softballs on either side of her belly. The vet checked her out (by feel only) and said "yes" she is about 5-6 wks along.

If the vet is telling you she is not pregnant, I would go with that and take her in to be spayed. That is a hard decision because you keep thinking "what if?". She will be a much happier cat and much healthier. You can talk to the vet and tell him that you don't want to know what they find.

It's a very tough call
 
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junior67

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The vet herself said she wasn't sure...... She could only have 1 or 2 kittens so she may not be able to feel them. She said she saw the signs of pregnancy and a false preg. is very rare in cats but she couldn't feel anything, but her abdomen was more solid..... (or something to that effect) so she isn't sure and said we could do x-rays but that would also only give us a maybe at this stage or wait it out and if in 5 weeks or so she hasn't had kittens I can bring her back and do an x-ray and if not preg. i can have her spayed. so she is just as confussed right now as I am.

She breifly mentioned having her spayed and I said until I knew for sure I couldn't. but if she went into heat I am getting her spayed as soon as she goes out of it. If she has babies she will be spayed as soon as she can after. They recommend after kittens are fully weaned since a spay is MUCH harder if teats are full and also more chance of infection. (learn somethign new every day, I knew they liked them to be weaned but didn't know why).

So far still no heat after almost 5 weeks (this weekend)........


How is Nina with her URI? have you decided what to do yet?
 

amyscrazy

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It is hard, isn't it?
Nina is doing good, I have been very sick though. I had a cold that turned into pneumonia (light case). This is my first full day out of bed. She got worse before she started to get better. 21- sorry, kittens are helping me type.kooooopo0[=

She is at the end of her antibiotics and I change my mind everyday. She is completely different. She is joining the others in the living room and has been very affectionate. She is sweet talking me. She has a check up tomorrow, we will see. I am going to download some pictures I took today.
 
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junior67

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(((((((((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))))))))))) That must be so hard for you to make that tough decision then have her go missing and deal with that, then come home sick and make you wait longer and have to make the decision all over again.
I would NOT want to be in your shoes. Can't wait to see pictures.



It is hard thinking Angel may not be pregnant as for 3 weeks I have figured she was (since shorly after she came home actually since she came home since she was most definately in heat when she left and gone for 6 days so more than likely she mated at least a few times). So I was starting to get excited about the idea of kittens in the house for a bit, no it wasn't planned at all!, and sharing it all with my oldest daughter (the other 2 won't really understand or remember). Now to think maybe she isn't is hard since I know we will never do it again so this was our only chance at having a litter of kittens. yes IK there are foster homes needed for preg. moms etc. But we already have 4 cats, 2 dogs and 5 birds (in my daughters room) and there is NO WAY my hubby would go for it so that isn't an option. It is something I would LOVE LOVE to do is be a foster mom to new kittens or a mom with babies etc. but no way hubby would go for it.


I am sure I will hear about stuff for saying that but that is the truth. My daughter asked me last night what I would think if Angel wasn't preg. and I told her I would be a little disappointed (didn't want to say how much for her sake and the sake of my dh who is worried we will become attached. LOL), but also glad for her and us as it would be easier.

Now I just wish I knew for certain one way or the other so I could move on accordingly............ Think it is the same (well in some ways) as when she got out and was gone for 6 days. it was the not knowing that was the hardest. If I KNEW she was around and safe it would have been ok, or if I knew she got killed it would have hurt but I could have moved on from there. to me this is the same. I hate not knowing feel stuck in limbo and not sure how to feel about anything and can't really "move on"
 
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junior67

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well Angel has looked like she has had a little pooch to me for about a week, noone else would notice unless you saw how slender she was before and definately not huge. Guess I will see what the next 2 weeks bring. she should either go into heat or get alot bigger. LOL
 

amyscrazy

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Here is Nina tonight. By my calculations, she is 4 wks, according to the vet she is 5-6 wks. If that is the case, the only option is for Cassidy to be the father (that makes me feel even worse).

[/IMG]
 

minxie

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Thet vet did an abdominal palpitation at 7 weeks (although I thought it was 9 weeks)..he said it felt like 2 in there and that they would need another 10 days in the oven.

2 weeks later, there were 4!
 

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From the picture, I'm telling you, she's pregnant!!! Maybe she has 1 or 2 really big kittens!!!
 

minxie

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Originally Posted by AMYSCRAZY

Here is Nina tonight. By my calculations, she is 4 wks, according to the vet she is 5-6 wks. If that is the case, the only option is for Cassidy to be the father (that makes me feel even worse).

[/IMG]
Nina is huge for 4 weeks! Looks like there will be a kitten fest!
 

tnr1

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Junior....since the vet wasn't sure...you can give it another couple of weeks as long as you keep her indoors and away from intact males. Don't want to tempt fate by having her get pregnant during a time when you don't know if she is pregnant or not.

I don't know how "rare" false pregnancies are...but our rescue has certainly had a few. Just imagine how our foster felt when she was given a cat to care for during it's pregnancy..and then the "due date" passes and there are no kittens.

I understand you would be disappointed if she turned out to have a false pregnancy...but as you stated, it would also be a blessing.

So give it a couple more weeks and you should know better the situation....and keep us posted.

Katie
 
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junior67

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TNR----- yes she will be indoors as she is stritctly and indoor kitty! (unless my 3 yr old lets her out but think we solved that problem.
) oh and I agree I will be sad but it will be a blessing at the same time.



abymommy---- the picture above isn't of my kitty that is nina that they know is preg. heheee. I have pictures up of Angel on another board. She is not even close to the size that Nina is.

here is the link to the thread I have pictures of Angel up on
http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87045
 
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junior67

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Amy---- wow look at Nina! Didn't the vet think she was about 5-6 weeks when she came back home? She is getting soooooooooooo big!
 

tnr1

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Originally Posted by junior67

TNR----- yes she will be indoors as she is stritctly and indoor kitty! (unless my 3 yr old lets her out but think we solved that problem.
) oh and I agree I will be sad but it will be a blessing at the same time.



abymommy---- the picture above isn't of my kitty that is nina that they know is preg. heheee. I have pictures up of Angel on another board. She is not even close to the size that Nina is.

here is the link to the thread I have pictures of Angel up on
http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87045
Definately keep us posted...BTW...if she isn't pregnant..although not ideal...you could also volunteer with a rescue group to socialize and play with the kittens they have that are ready for adoption. It's part of the reason I got involved with rescue (shameless grin) and I've never regretted it. Those cute pudgy bellies are just endearing..and finding them the right homes makes it all worth it.

Katie
 
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junior67

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Katie--- I would LOVE to do something like that but as stated above with the pets we have NO WAY would my hubby let me.
He was already dreading that Angel might be and doesn't want to be around when they go to new homes because doesnt' want to see my "sad". I tried to tell him I will be happy and sad but he didn't care about the happy part just that I would be sad to see them go too. heheee. ah well maybe some year once our numbers are lower I can do that instead of a permanent kitty.
 

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Junior;

I figured my girl had to be preggo...she had gotten out 3 times in January and I thought only once in February. She went out of heat, didn't even look near the door anymore and started to get slightly larger nipples. When I tried to figure out the dates from when she first got out and then the subsequent dates and the time came and nothing I finally took her in to be checked. The dr said she was showing signs of being pregnant but that it also could end up being a false pregnancy. He said to give her a couple more wks. Mind you, her tummy was getting wider each wk. So the couple wks went by and I just assumed that it was a false pregnancy. Everytime I tried to feel for movement the most I ever felt was one light tap against my finger, and nothing more than the one. So after 2 wks and nothing, I scheduled her to be spayed. Well, apparently she had to have gotten out at least one time later in February that I didn't know about because she lost her mucous plug on a Tuesday and she was scheduled for surgery on that Friday! She ended up getting a c-section on Thursday morning though. A baby was lodged sideways in the canal and didn't make it but 2 others did!
It made me wonder after the fact...what if she hadn't delivered when she did and I took her in on Friday for the surgery? I wonder if they'd have been able to tell at that point that she was indeed pregnant even though it was not clear 3 wks prior...even the day before her plug came out there was still no movement from them. The only time I saw and felt DEFINATE movement was the day before her c-section when she was in labor. I could see the contractions and the babies moving all around.
 
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junior67

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etcrame---- so she went to the vets 3 weeks before she had them? And they couldn't tell then? was she big then at all? Angel has a little pooch (shown in picture) but that is it. The first picture you can see it is not there at that point..........

IK she hasn't been out since since I have seen her every day every couple hours. But she would still only be 4 weeks 4 days from first day out and 3 weeks 5 days from last day out.........

But that is why until she goes into heat again I don't want to have her spayed. I will watch her close and make sure she doesn't get out her next heat and after that I will have her spayed.


Think right now I will try to train my mind into thinking she is NOT preg. and go that way but look to see if she gets any bigger......... think that is the best way.
 

etcrame

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To me, she seemed big! They said she showed all the signs...but they could not tell by palpating(sp?) the abdomen. He said he could not feel what felt like a baby for sure and to give her a couple more wks. According to the last possible date I had she would've been at 63-65 days when we were at the vet so that's why I waited the 2 wks before scheduling the spay for still another wk away. I just knew she had to be preggo. Thank god I did!!!

Do her nipples appear to be larger at all? Firstly I noticed that she hadn't gone into heat, then I noticed her nipples when I picked her up. That's when I really thought she was, which would've put her at around 4 wks I believe at the time I noticed that. They were barely noticeable before. That's when I started trying to figure the dates out. Her belly started pooching out the sides. She was always a very slender cat, so it was noticeable to me; but I never felt the babies...I was so confused! LOL Now, she seemed to feel them! She would be sleeping next to me and she would jump awake and make these little meows when she'd wake up and couldn't get comfortable, kept rolling from side to side and strech over the side of her climber and look at me like what the heck is waking me up.
 

maverick_kitten

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I took Maverick to the vets two or three times. The first time they couldnt tell, the second they said yes most probably but only one or two kittens though it might be fecal matter she could feel!

I think I took her for a last check up and they said yes she was, would be giving birth any day and would have 2 kittens (she had one in the end).
 
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