Need to know if a cat has had kittens

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)

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

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

"Liz" wrote in message
...
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.

"Liz" wrote in message
...
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.

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)

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)