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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / July 2004

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Need to know if a cat has had kittens

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Liz - 10 Jul 2004 06:07 GMT
We found a stray kitten, who I think is pregnant. Her belly feels
pretty big to me, but my husband says he can't feel any kittens in her
and he thinks she may have already had kittens, because there's a lot
of swelling around her nipples. I'd like to keep her here, but if
she's got kittens she needs to get back to them. How can I tell for
sure? What should I do?
MacCandace - 10 Jul 2004 06:52 GMT
<<  How can I tell for
sure? What should I do? >>

I'm sure a vet could tell.  Is she trying to get out desperately.  Usually, if
they have kittens, they don't want to be away from them very long.  How long
have you had her inside?

Candace
(take the litter out before replying by e-mail)

See my cats:
http://photos.yahoo.com/maccandace

"One does not meet oneself until one catches the reflection from an eye other
than human."  (Loren Eisely)
Liz - 10 Jul 2004 07:51 GMT
><<  How can I tell for
>sure? What should I do? >>
>
>I'm sure a vet could tell.  Is she trying to get out desperately.  Usually, if
>they have kittens, they don't want to be away from them very long.  How long
>have you had her inside?

She's been here since yesterday. She meowed a lot last night, but
she's not trying to get out. She's just huddled in a corner.

It's unlikely I'll be able to get her to a vet before Monday. I didn't
figure out until today that she might be pregnant or have kittens. She
seems too young for it.
Aimee S - 10 Jul 2004 15:58 GMT
If the cat has had her kittens, the nipples will look like they've been
suckled on, I mean  the hair would look like it had been wet at some
point, hope that makes since, it does sound like she hasn't had them
yet. Good Luck!!

Let us know how you make out,

Aimee
MadHatter - 11 Jul 2004 19:33 GMT
>><<  How can I tell for
>>sure? What should I do? >>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>figure out until today that she might be pregnant or have kittens. She
>seems too young for it.

cats reach their sexual maturity at 6 months.  if she is over 6
months, she could very well be pregnant, but she wouldn't have given
birth until 9 months, since feline gestation period is 3 months.  how
old do you think she is?  i'm not sure how much a 6 months old kitten,
yes she is still a kitten at half a year, would weigh, but if she is
underweight, she would look younger. try giving her food in her
corner.  speak to her in a soothing voice and try to make cat noises.
don't make any loud noises around her and don't try to force her out
of her corner.  she will finally approach you and you can then reach
with your hand toward her and she will, eventually, let you pet her.
she will come out of there.  when we got our first cat in the Ukraine,
i was about 9 years old, the poor thing was clearly abused! her
whiskers were burned, she was emaciated, and the end of her tail was
broken.  the first thing she did at home, was run under the wardrobe
closet and hide their for a while.  we were patient with her and she
eventually came out and grew into a wonderful, beautiful cat with
shiny calico fur.  she was sweat, loyal, caring and independent, but
she was terrified of everyone when she went outside, although she was
an indoor/outdoor cat and brought us several lovely litters.

good luck!

-L
MacCandace - 11 Jul 2004 21:06 GMT
<< cats reach their sexual maturity at 6 months.  if she is over 6
months, she could very well be pregnant, but she wouldn't have given
birth until 9 months, since feline gestation period is 3 months. >>

Feline gestation is 63 days not 3 months and cats can certainly become mature
before 6 months, unfortunately.  It is not true that they can't have kittens
until they are 9 months old.  I hope this cat didn't have kittens already
because they are probably dead by now without their mom cat.

Candace
(take the litter out before replying by e-mail)

See my cats:
http://photos.yahoo.com/maccandace

"One does not meet oneself until one catches the reflection from an eye other
than human."  (Loren Eisely)
MadHatter - 12 Jul 2004 19:02 GMT
><< cats reach their sexual maturity at 6 months.  if she is over 6
>months, she could very well be pregnant, but she wouldn't have given
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>before 6 months, unfortunately.  It is not true that they can't have kittens
>until they are 9 months old.  

sorry, i was sure it was 3 months.  i meant if their gestation period
is 3 months, then they would give birth at 9 months if they got
pregnant at 6 months.  how early do cats reach their sexual maturity?
i know that they should not be spayed before 6 months, so that's the
*average* age for sexual maturity in cats, but it can be between 4-12
months.

I hope this cat didn't have kittens already
>because they are probably dead by now without their mom cat.
>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>"One does not meet oneself until one catches the reflection from an eye other
>than human."  (Loren Eisely)
Sunflower - 10 Jul 2004 17:13 GMT
> We found a stray kitten, who I think is pregnant. Her belly feels
> pretty big to me, but my husband says he can't feel any kittens in her
> and he thinks she may have already had kittens, because there's a lot
> of swelling around her nipples. I'd like to keep her here, but if
> she's got kittens she needs to get back to them. How can I tell for
> sure? What should I do?

Does she have milk in her breasts yet?  If so, then she is either close to
delivery or post delivery.  If you have a shelter or humane society or vet
office nearby, I bet someone there with more experience could take a look at
her and tell you for sure.  BTW, a pregnant female cat can still be spayed.
There are so many kittens and cats being put to death in shelters everywhere
and it is so difficult for a private individual to find homes for kittens
that any vet who works with a shelter or humane society will usually perform
the procedure right up until term.  It's not ideal, of course, but unless
you are prepared to have all of the kittens spayed and neutered before
rehoming them (she can have 8 or more) or are planning on keeping all of the
kittens, it's easier on both you and the cat in the long run.  And, unless
you have all of the kittens spayed or neutered before they leave you,  they
possibly could contribute to another 8 "oops" kittens of their own.....and
so on... and so on.....   Female cats can become pregnant as young as 4
months if the conditions are right, well before some folks think about
fixing them. That's why there is a pet overpopulation problem.
 
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