I'm Not Sure if She IS PG....???

Well her name is Spots! I knew she was destined for us because of the group of 3 spots on her back, near her tail---it looks like the Mickey Mouse symbol when you see it from another angle!! And I am a MM freak, hence the name 'mowsluver=(mickey)mouse lover' and the orange male is Tigger. He had his tail amputated after coming in one day with it all mangled!! We believe he had a bad time in a neighbors trap. The vet said it looked like his tail may have been caught and he tried to chew it off. So now he has a cute little 2" stub! We also have a female named Pooh--she and Tigger came to us together a little over a year ago when we heard that they were left in a box in a field to run loose. We had them spayed/neutered/shots etc through a free/low cost program here in our town.
Spots was born wild and we didn't think she would stay with us, which is part of the reason in the delay in doing the paperwork to get her spayed. We actually started it about 3 months ago but they have been so over-run by requests that they took a long time to get back to us.

I can see how one would think those three spots down at the hips would look like a MM head! *giggle* I had a black/white bi-color boy named Buttons. He looked a lot like your girl.

As far as whether or not your girl might be pregnant, I think it would be a safe assumption at this point. However, if she is still early on in her term, you can safely spay her and not have to deal with all of the issues around caring for a pregnant cat and then assisting with raising her kittens. I know it sounds like a lot of fun, yes, they are cute and cuddly and all that, but it is time-consuming, expensive and can be ... well, trying at times to say the least. Many people don't feel comfortable spaying a pregnant cat and that is OK, they are perfectly well within their rights to their own opinions on it. But why put yourself and your cat through it if you don't have to? There are already so many needy homeless cats in this world. Cats don't share our feelings when it comes to terminating a pregnancy -- we put our own values and standards upon them when it comes to these things. Just something to think about ...

I saw something about spaying her even if she is PG but even though she is a cat, I can't do that.
I will do what I have to do to take care of her. I have a friend who will give the kittens a great home and make sure they are taken care of as far as spying/neuturing/shots etc....he was going to take our cats if we were not able to find a home that allowed pets. He has a large barn which is also his workplace and he had 3 cats who lived in the barn. They were with him for many years and were siblings. They all passed away within a year of the first one from age related problems.
It is such a cool set up! They had their own 'room' and everything though they were free to roam the barn and the land he owns. I know they would be safe and well cared for with him.....

OK, another stupid question....I have read many of the threads and am so glad to have found this site!

I read about a large metal dog crate for labor/afterwards, but would one of those mesh kids playpens work? The one (or both) side can be lowered and there will be room in there for food/water. The pad is plastic and of course will be covered with towels etc.

Then I can also cover it or part of it with a sheet or blanket for darkness. She will still be able to see out and I will have easy access.

What do you think? Or am I crazy for thinking this?

Originally Posted by mowsluver

OK, another stupid question....I have read many of the threads and am so glad to have found this site!

I read about a large metal dog crate for labor/afterwards, but would one of those mesh kids playpens work? The one (or both) side can be lowered and there will be room in there for food/water. The pad is plastic and of course will be covered with towels etc.

Then I can also cover it or part of it with a sheet or blanket for darkness. She will still be able to see out and I will have easy access.

What do you think? Or am I crazy for thinking this?

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My only concern with a playpen is that a cat who wants to get out will find a way to climb the mesh (or rip through it) and escape. The whole idea of a crate is that there is no way that a cat can get out...even if they climb the sides. As long as you can put the playpen in a room with a door so that if she does climb the sides she can't get out of your home...that to me would be ok.

Katie

I like the idea of a playpen, honestly it would be perfect, but I have the same concerns as TNR1 about it.

I don't know if your budget allows for this at present, but those nice, vinyl-covered metal crates can be had at WalMart for about $50 - $75. They are nice to have around when you share your home with pets as you just never know when you are going to need to confine one of them for whatever reason. They fold, they store, they clean quickly and they are easily and quickly moved. I can't just can't recommend one enough. If the budget is tight, try signing up with one of your local FreeCycle email lists (PM me for more info on that if you want) and post a wanted message for one. I see them on my own area's list frequently and have even picked up two extras in the event I or someone I know might need one.

Yes, I was planning on putting WHATEVER we end up using, in the spare bedroom. Door shut. There is also a bed in there that I can sleep in if need be.
I was really just thinking more about the labor/delivery and kittens afterwards when I thought about the playpen. Mom will be able to get in/out but the little ones will have to stay put---for awhile anyway!

Hi and Welcome! She sounds like my MaxSheba. That girl could time her jump out the door right from an airplane! LOL and I understand what you mean about having her spayed while pregnant. E1 here has there own opinion about having their cat spayed while pregnant but I can't bring myself to do that either so I do understand.
Also if you don't know much about the liter she was born in it is possible that she may have actually been the runt, in any case the runts are susceptible to more illnesses and all, but if she is eating healthy, using the litter often, and is up to date on her shots she should be fine. If she is not up to date on her shots then I would just wait until after the litter is born and take care of her shots and the them.
I really know how you feel. I was feeling my babies stomach and felt a lump and thought that perhaps something was wrong because I felt a lump and also noticed that she was quite upset when I touched her belly. Come to find out that the lump was a nipple and it was almost three weeks to the date that she had escaped. She is now getting fat in the belly and sleeping alot. She is also laying like she is pregnant like she needs to get her belly out the way so we are pretty much banking on the fact that she is pregnant. Other things you may look for is morning sickness, yes, in your cat, lol. She may also start to sleep an exceptional amount. I know cats sleep alot but when they are pregnant some sleep to sleep more. As they get bigger their activity may slow down because of the weight of the kittens. She may become excessively loving, and you say she isn't one to be held so you will know. I sure did she rubbed me until I wanted to run away! Other than that you have to play the waiting game like I did and believe me it's been almost five weeks and it shows she is getting big!
I hope that helps and keep us posted on your baby.

ms_joshica,
Thanks! I know she is 'only' a car but I know animals grieve over loss of humans/other animals, so I feel like she KNOWS she is PG and to spay her now just isn't the right thing to do for me...
I have seen her mom on many occasions and her mom is on the small side, too. Spots also didn't seem to like it too much yesterday when I was rubbing her belly. It feels kind of solid but too soon to be feeling any lumps. As for her sleeping, it's hard to tell because our cats like to sleep in the bushes out in the yard and they are so thick you can't see through them.
Of course hubby let her out by accident this morning so we will not see her until later in the day! That is pretty much her pattern, she used to sleep most of the day and be up and out all night, but recently she has spent more time outside than inside. When she does come in I am going to try to take some pics of her so I can see any changes.
Do you know how much weight they gain (normally) when PG? I know it can't be too much but I will track that too.
Thank you all for the help!

Originally Posted by mowsluver

It feels kind of solid but too soon to be feeling any lumps. As for her sleeping, it's hard to tell because our cats like to sleep in the bushes out in the yard and they are so thick you can't see through them.
Of course hubby let her out by accident this morning so we will not see her until later in the day! That is pretty much her pattern, she used to sleep most of the day and be up and out all night, but recently she has spent more time outside than inside.

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This really needs to stop....an intact potentially pregnant cat should not spend any time outdoors. Please set her up in a room that is 2 doors away from time outside...consider it a sabitical until you determine if she is pregnant. If she is pregnant, she needs to remain indoors only until her kittens are weaned and she can be safely spayed. Currently you are allowing a pattern of behavior that will no doubt cause for her to become pregnant again as she will try to get out once her kittens are born. Cats can become pregnant as early as a week after giving birth.

I know she is 'only' a car but I know animals grieve over loss of humans/other animals, so I feel like she KNOWS she is PG and to spay her now just isn't the right thing to do for me...

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Truthfully, we cannot claim to know what a cat would prefer because it isn't a choice for them to become pregnant...it is instinctual. If you do not want to spay your cat..that is your option, but you need to take responsibility to ensure that this is her only litter. That will require that you keep her indoors only and under no circumstance allow her back outdoors until she is spayed.

Katie

I know what you mean though. My baby just runs to escape, thank the Lord we have a team of people who go out there and get her because she can NOT stay out. We confirmed today that she is preg. and can actually feel the kittens inside her move a little now so there is no doubt. If you don't have a huge house or spare rooms I know how impossible it can be to put her somewhere but do try, as she may be carrying little ones, to keep her in because if she is, and you don't know how far along she is, she can deliver outside your home and that is so not good. Trust me, I understand though, they are seriously like trying to catch greased lighting covered in fur! and when they want out, they want out, but if you have any amount of spare room to put here in you can put here there during the busy parts of the day while there is a lot of traffic.

I usually just pick her up and hold my little ball of spunk in fur when I open the door, but children and husbands are not so careful so maybe having a chat with them explaining to them that she may be pregnant and can NOT under any circumstances be allowed out will make them feel a little more obligated to watch over her. Then talk to them and ask them to help you come up with solutions that everyone can help in to kee her from going in and out when they leave. Like my sons now close the door immediately as they leave out to ride their bikes, hmm, come to think of it maybe we should have said she was pregnant when she wasn't It helped me out with my kids and husband. They really began to understand what a delicate situation it was after we talked. However you do it I am sure you will do the right thing

Yes, I have talked with husband and kids and I make no excuses, only offer explanations!
I hate the thought of closing her away but I will do it. I have other pets and cannot keep them confined just because of her so she will be the one to be closed away in the bedroom. The dogs and other cats are used to the back door being open so that they can go in and out. Plus it's summer and the kids are out of school.
I have felt her and do not feel anything moving in there but she is a bit bigger then she used to be.ALso we never had heat cycles that were noticed...no crying etc so we have no timetable to go by. I am going to ask the clinic if I can bring her by just for 'a feel' and see what they say.
Do you know about how much weight a cat gains during PG?
Thanks!

In situations where there isn't a room that can be kept closed...the best alternative is a large dog crate with her food, water and litterbox. It isn't ideal...but it beats the alternative of having a potentially pregnant cat escape. Again...the idea is to not allow her to 1. have her kittens outside if she is pregnant 2. become pregnant if she isn't and 3. if she is pregnant and has her kittens...not allowing her to escape and become pregnant again.

ALso we never had heat cycles that were noticed...no crying etc so we have no timetable to go by.

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Cats are induced ovulators which means that they do not need to be in heat to become pregnant....once they reach sexual maturity..all bets are off of trying to trace her possible date back to a date when she is in heat. I think your idea of taking her in to be seen is a good one.

I think that trying to judge pregnancy by weight can be tricky as a cat can gain weight for other reasons. We've had some cats that we swore were pregnant but turned out to have a bad case of worms. Gayef...who is the moderator here could probably address your question best.

Katie

Well, I am taking Spots to a shot/wellness clinic on Saturday. I do think she is PG and when I called today, they said they will give her e look over and see if they can tell (of course she would have to be pretty far along) but if there is ANY question I will wait on the shots.
She is a very slight cat and from this pic she looks a little 'broad'...