Cat

[Guest]

How can you tell if your cat is pregnant? She's 3 years old and an outdoor kitty. Lately she's been more quiet than normal.

[Stephanie]

Copied from http://www.cat-pregnancy-report.com/cat ... signs.html :

Cat Pregnancy Signs Are Easy To Recognize It takes three weeks before cat pregnancy signs become visible. Every cat owner will be able to recognize the symptoms. During the first weeks of cat gestation, it's almost impossible to notice that a cat is pregnant. In general she will behave normally. Check her nipples, if you think a cat is pregnant. Her nipples become pink after about three weeks. This is most visible if it's the first time the queen is pregnant. From that moment it will take six weeks before the kittens arrive. Your vet will be able to confirm if she's pregnant. There are other cat pregnancy signs. Pregnant queens become quieter and more loving. They sleep more and are not interested in male cats. Heat cycles stop and a queen becomes more loving. If your cat is used to walk outside, she will voluntarily spend more time at home during feline gestation. Here are useful pregnant cat care tips. During pregnancy a cat will gain weight. But it lasts until the fifth week before this becomes visible. After six weeks her nipples will also grow considerably. From then on they are filled with milk. Your cat will want to eat more and more. This is good. Give her enough (her regular food mixed with kitten food), but don't overfeed her. A few days before birth, her appetite will decrease again. One last thing. Sometimes a queen shows cat pregnancy symptoms, without actually being pregnant. This is called false pregnancy. However, this is quite rare.

If she's an outdoor cat, why haven't you had her spayed? There's no reason to wait...there are TONS of unwanted kittens that fill shelters upon shelters upon shelters. My Annabelle was born to a feral mother and rescued along with her littermates. She was one of the lucky ones out there. Take your cat to the vet right away - this is so important.

[kimc]

If she is pregnant, keep a close eye on her so when she does deliver the kittens, you know where they are. It is known that a male cat will kill the kittens just to get the mother cat ready to mate again. It would be best if you could go ahead and get her spayed. Cats can have multiply litters every year and kittens can become pregnant very early in their lives producing yet more cats. This is a very vicious cycle of having more kittens than warranted.

[suebgone]

Orrrrr she could have a major often fatal infection in her uterus! Get her to the vet pronto.

[Guest]

I took her into the Vet and she had a really bad infection, I guess like what Sue mentioned... starts with a P. They kept her overnight and spayed her this morning. They said she is recovering nicely and I can bring her home this evening. Is there anything that I will need to worry about when I bring her home?

[Catwoman]

Information on Pyometra (the article is for dogs but the infection effects cats just the same): http://www.seefido.com/dog-breeding/html/most_common_diseases_in_female.htm

[suebgone]

you were extremely lucky. Usually a pyro is too far gone by the time it is discovered & the animal dies. Good job. Now what you can do is tell everybody you meet that doesn't have their pet neutered. Maybe they'll listen to you being it is a first hand story. I would really consider keeping her inside when she comes home. If you need ideas, let us know. You won't be real popular for awhile but it is much safer for her Thanks for letting us know & good luck