Can you tell how pregnant a cat is if you've just met her?

gettingready

Originally Posted by splishsplash

I don't understand how the one on the bottom doesn't get squished, especially when mum comes back and just flops down on top of them all

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAY7BFDJUhM

djp64

sugarmuffin wrote: »

Hi Debbie! Thanks so much for replying. Well the vet said her 'teets' were a bit enlarged and pinkish so thought she could be pregnant or had just had a litter. She was very skinny 2 weeks ago but now she is eating like a horse and has put a bit of weight on. She never stops eating! That's all we know really. The PDSA won't do an ultra sound scan - do you think we should take her to a private vet to see if she is definitely pregnant? Gosh, what a worry :-(

Hi

Did the vet say this when she was vaccinated? After 21 days of being pregnant a cat's teats will pink up and enlarge very slightly. So if she was vaccinated at the time the vet noticed this and she is pregnant she was at least 3 weeks pregnant so the risk is reduced.

If you look at her from above (when she's standing up) does her tummy look a little rugby ball shaped? She may just be eating because she's found a lovely home and is making up for lost time :-)

The ultrasound would confirm the pregnancy, the approximate number of kittens and would be able to detect heart and skeletal abnormalities.

If the vet diagnosed the potential pregnancy 2 weeks ago (when she was vaccinated) that would make her at least 5 weeks pregnant so if you wait another week or so you should be able to see the pregnancy clearly and if you place your hand gently over her stomach feel the shape of the kittens. If you're going to have the ultrasound done then perhaps in a week or so when foetal development is more advanced and any possible defects are more easily discerned.

On the other hand she could of course just have finished with a litter of kittens (hence the enlarged teats and skinny body) and if she wasn't receiving enough food / had been thrown out she would have given everything she had to ensure the kitten's survival. Another week or so would give you a chance to see how her stomach develops.

Just thought - did the vet vaccinate her at the time of diagnosing the possible pregnancy or before.

Debbie

Just edited to say - please don't worry about her. They are far more resilient than you'd think. I had a foster case last year where she'd been abandoned and ill treated and came to me 6 weeks pregnant. She was so thin you could see her hip bones sticking out and a lot of her fur fell out. She (Gypsy) was so weak that she didn't move for 2 weeks unless she was using the litter tray. I fed her up and looked after her and she went on to have 6 very happy / healthy babies. You have given your new furry friend a chance and taken her in and many people wouldn't have. Irrespective of what happens with the possible pregnancy she's clearly found a loving / caring home and that counts for everything.

djp64

splishsplash wrote: »

Thank you for this, I can't wait to see them exploring and climbing! We have three cats and a dog, all female, all spayed. The dog is fine around cats, the oldest and middle cats are fine with other cats, the youngest doesn't like having her place usurped though, and she's the one we'll be keeping a sharp eye on.

It sounds like you're existing furry babies will be just fine :-)

That's the plan, we already have three places found, but I found myself coming up with all kinds of reasons today why the places might be unsuitable:eek:. I really have to get my head around that and quickly!

Resist the urge - I find myself doing this - came close to pretending that one of my foster babies had a serious illness so the new owners wouldn't want him. But good triumphed over kitten cuteness in the end and Pippin has a wonderful home :rotfl:

djp64

splishsplash wrote: »

Thank you for all the information, it’s reassuring to hear they are born deaf, because we were frightened of upsetting them by making noise.

So, we have four kittens, three of them weigh between 130g and 140g, the fourth one weighs 100g. I'm really glad now that I know who to keep an eye on... so thanks for the tip to weigh them, it's not something that would ever have dawned on me to do! They do seem to be happy with the level of feeding, although they are so rough with each other when they fight over a nipple!

They're an excellent weight :-) In my last litter the runt (Peanut) weighed just 60g so yours are doing just fine.

sugarmuffin

splishsplash wrote: »

Oh wow, I think your little black cat found some very nice people to follow home! As you can tell from this thread, I have absolutely no useful advice to give you, but I hope your little cat and babies are ok.

Arr thank you! Yes I think they know exactly who to follow, and who are animal lovers haha ... am keeping my fingers crossed, will update with any news x

sugarmuffin

djp64 wrote: »

Hi

Did the vet say this when she was vaccinated? After 21 days of being pregnant a cat's teats will pink up and enlarge very slightly. So if she was vaccinated at the time the vet noticed this and she is pregnant she was at least 3 weeks pregnant so the risk is reduced.

If you look at her from above (when she's standing up) does her tummy look a little rugby ball shaped? She may just be eating because she's found a lovely home and is making up for lost time :-)

The ultrasound would confirm the pregnancy, the approximate number of kittens and would be able to detect heart and skeletal abnormalities.

If the vet diagnosed the potential pregnancy 2 weeks ago (when she was vaccinated) that would make her at least 5 weeks pregnant so if you wait another week or so you should be able to see the pregnancy clearly and if you place your hand gently over her stomach feel the shape of the kittens. If you're going to have the ultrasound done then perhaps in a week or so when foetal development is more advanced and any possible defects are more easily discerned.

On the other hand she could of course just have finished with a litter of kittens (hence the enlarged teats and skinny body) and if she wasn't receiving enough food / had been thrown out she would have given everything she had to ensure the kitten's survival. Another week or so would give you a chance to see how her stomach develops.

Just thought - did the vet vaccinate her at the time of diagnosing the possible pregnancy or before.

Debbie

Just edited to say - please don't worry about her. They are far more resilient than you'd think. I had a foster case last year where she'd been abandoned and ill treated and came to me 6 weeks pregnant. She was so thin you could see her hip bones sticking out and a lot of her fur fell out. She (Gypsy) was so weak that she didn't move for 2 weeks unless she was using the litter tray. I fed her up and looked after her and she went on to have 6 very happy / healthy babies. You have given your new furry friend a chance and taken her in and many people wouldn't have. Irrespective of what happens with the possible pregnancy she's clearly found a loving / caring home and that counts for everything.

Hi Debbie, thanks so much again for your reply. The vet said she could be pregnant before he gave her the vaccine, but asked us if we were happy to go ahead. We didn't know the dangers at this stage, so the pair of us just looked at each other and said whatever the vet thought best - we didn't know what was going on! hahaha yes she looks a little bit like a rugby ball! She is so happy and content - such a difference from 2 weeks ago, when she was like a little lost soul. We're going back to the vets on the 6th June so hopefully we will have it confirmed ... thank you for your kindness and sensible advice ... Arr your story about Gypsy has made me well up (and I am sitting at my desk at work, oh dear!) I am always overwelmed with the kindness that animal lovers show towards each other, and it makes me laugh at how much we panic if they're unwell! I have 2 cats, Sugar & Muffin who are 16 and still continue to amaze me everyday. Carl, my boyfriend has never had a cat ... little does he know what's in store for him! Thanks again, I will update when I have some news. Lots of love from Liverpool x

fran2491

ahh so cute lol loving the pics, a female adoped me this year and she was also preg just a week after being with me she gave birth to just the one tabby kitten,she is ginger and white,as she just had the one he also had to stay also just found this a little random lol :rotfl:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iXHim3ToQ4&feature=related

tankgirl1

caela wrote: »

I rushed her into the bathroom on some clean blankets and shut the door, sitting with her on the floor. Just talk to the cat gently, stroke it and I know it sounds weird but just talk it though the process just say "aw, you're having your babies, they're going to be cute, you'll be fine" lol because it will calm you down too and the tone of your voice will calm her down and she might settle to give birth.

Sorry havent read the rest of the thread yet, but as a VN, I have been taught, and would advise, that the best you can do is secure the house and leave well alone. Do not restrict them to a small area or room, and do not get involved in the birth unless there is trouble!

Do not be fussing and petting a queen who is giving birth - this will just up her stress levels. When my rescue cat gave birth, I just watched.... she did the rest.. and she moved them round a couple of times, but ended up in the den I made her. Clever girl!

You must watch though - if they are actively straining for anything like 30-50 mins, then just get in the car and call the vets on the way!

splishsplash

Evening all,

Kitties are doing well. They now weigh 200g, 190g, 160g and 140g. I had a slight panic attack because I read they should double their birth weight in a week - it took me a minute to realise I only weighed them on day 4!

Today we moved mum, babies and box to their new location across the landing from where they were. Mum really didn't like the move, she ran from the old place to the new place in a very stressed fashion, before taking one of the kittens back and leaving it on the floor. We moved the kitten back into the box and stayed with them for ages and eventually she settled in with them. We are now leaving them to become accustomed to their new surroundings, as that is where they will be for the next few weeks.

They're getting really tubby now, which is soo cute. Their markings are also changing quite a bit also, and we're trying to handle them a little every day - not picking them up, but stroking them while mum is with them.

Sugarmuffin, I hope things are well with your little lady?

Here are the latest pics:



and now for the 'alien' pic - eyes not quite open yet:


and my favourite little belly shot

splishsplash

djp64 wrote: »

They're an excellent weight :-) In my last litter the runt (Peanut) weighed just 60g so yours are doing just fine.

That's so good to know - and I'm delighted to see them all gaining weight quite steadily:T

fran2491 wrote: »

ahh so cute lol loving the pics, a female adoped me this year and she was also preg just a week after being with me she gave birth to just the one tabby kitten,she is ginger and white,as she just had the one he also had to stay also just found this a little random lol :rotfl:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iXHim3ToQ4&feature=related

I love this !

tankgirl1 wrote: »

Sorry havent read the rest of the thread yet, but as a VN, I have been taught, and would advise, that the best you can do is secure the house and leave well alone. Do not restrict them to a small area or room, and do not get involved in the birth unless there is trouble!

Do not be fussing and petting a queen who is giving birth - this will just up her stress levels. When my rescue cat gave birth, I just watched.... she did the rest.. and she moved them round a couple of times, but ended up in the den I made her. Clever girl!

You must watch though - if they are actively straining for anything like 30-50 mins, then just get in the car and call the vets on the way!

We stood far away and probably nearly deafened her with all our hysterical stage whispers (four of us!) No wonder she ran and hid under the duvet!