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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

How will I know if cat is pregnant

34 replies

missingthesunshine · 05/03/2023 22:18

I have a 4yo indoor cat, she's never been out before but got out the other night for about an hour and then came in.
If she has got up to anything what will be the first signs and when please?

OP posts:
ElizabethinherGermanGarden · 05/03/2023 22:19

She'll get fat in about a month and have kittens in about two months.

Nsky62 · 05/03/2023 22:21

Why isn’t she spayed

Tygertiger · 05/03/2023 22:23

If you get her spayed this week it will be perfectly safe for her even if she is in the very early stages of pregnancy. In fact this is recommended in the case of accidental matings.

Original poster
missingthesunshine · 05/03/2023 22:25

Well yes, but we are due to go on holiday in the may half term and have a cat sitter booked so if she did have kittens they'd be about two weeks old by then so we'd like to know as soon as possible if she's expecting.

OP posts:
Tygertiger · 05/03/2023 22:27

Get her spayed. It’s safe (safer for her than pregnancy and birth, too) and it’s the responsible thing to do. Otherwise you’ll be cancelling your holiday as well as finding homes for kittens.

Scramble1805 · 05/03/2023 22:27

In my experience it quite far along that the obvious signs start to show. Keep feeling the belly for any changes or lumpy bits. Also they start to make nests in quiet corners of the house out of anything like clothes or paper they can find.

If she was only out for an hour, and met a tom, then she would very likely want to meet him again, so watch for her desperately try to escape, or any unusual cats lingering outside your house.

Agapornis · 05/03/2023 23:38

You won't know until it's far, far too late.
Bring her to the vet now and get her spayed. It's not fair on the cat or the catsitter. A catsitter can't look after kittens unless you're paying them to be there 24/7 and you've triple checked with them way, way in advance. Some cats give birth to one or several stillborn kittens - no catsitter wants to deal with that, and there is no way to predict it.

Yesthatismychildsigh · 05/03/2023 23:40

Why do people get pets and not look after them properly? She needs to be speyed.

Agapornis · 05/03/2023 23:49

Sorry, misread - thought the catsitter might have to deal with the birth.
Regardless, you shouldn't leave the potential kittens alone for most of the day and night. A 20-30 min visit once or twice a day won't cut it. You need to make sure the kittens are well socialised so they become used to humans, cuddles and no-claw play time. As a catsitter, I'd judge you for abandoning them.

GayforMoleman · 06/03/2023 00:16

Has she shown signs of being in heat?
Nipples will enlarge and "pink up" starting week three. They'll lose fur around them. That's usually the first sign. They'll engorge later on. She'll get swelling around her tummy a couple of weeks after.
Other signs can be aggression towards other cats, change in appetite (going off food and then increase in appetite). Might become more affectionate towards you. Either way, give it a few weeks and you'll find out. If you don’t want kittens, just get her spayed asap.
(Used to be a breeder).

Clymene · 06/03/2023 00:18

Get her spayed now and then there wont be any kittens.

Yarnosaura · 06/03/2023 00:49

Whether she is or she isn't, see this as a wake up call to get her spayed asap. It is the responsible thing to do.

TradedAngelsForMyDemons · 06/03/2023 00:53

Don’t wait for kittens, just get her spayed now.

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 06/03/2023 08:26

If she gets pyometra it’ll be your fault for not spaying her and you’ll feel awful. Also female cats who aren’t neutered or mated can literally go psychotic overnight and attack humans.

sanityisamyth · 06/03/2023 08:29

ElizabethinherGermanGarden · 05/03/2023 22:19

She'll get fat in about a month and have kittens in about two months.

This! Get her spayed and don't be so irresponsible next time.

Emmamoo89 · 06/03/2023 08:30

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 06/03/2023 08:26

If she gets pyometra it’ll be your fault for not spaying her and you’ll feel awful. Also female cats who aren’t neutered or mated can literally go psychotic overnight and attack humans.

I've got 2 female cats. One is spayed the other one isn't. She is 3 and the most loving cat ever. I don't think all cats go psychotic. Tbf what ive read its most common in older cats. She will be getting spayed after I let her have a litter.

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 06/03/2023 08:33

That’s great news, there’s a nationwide shortage of kittens. Stock levels are critically low and the shelters are all empty 👍🏻

Todaypicard · 06/03/2023 08:35

Just get her booked in to be speyed this week! Sorted!

gamerchick · 06/03/2023 08:36

Don't think. Just book her in and get her fixed OP. Why on earth have you left it?

somethinginthewater · 06/03/2023 08:41

Please just get her spayed. There's nothing cute about adding to the kitten overpopulation.

henrilechat · 06/03/2023 09:24

@Emmamoo89
Why are you making your cat have a litter of kittens before doing the responsible thing and getting her spayed? Cats just have biological urges to mate, they don't actually feel a need to experience motherhood! I've looked after a number of cats having their first litter (worked for cat shelter) and they don't usually seem super thrilled about the whole thing. Neither are we in need of more kittens in this country.

louise5754 · 06/03/2023 09:29

If she got up to anything?

Like she went looking for a shag?

I can't imagine how baby toms might have gone after her.

Horrific. Especially if she's not used to being outside.

sanityisamyth · 06/03/2023 09:30

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 06/03/2023 08:33

That’s great news, there’s a nationwide shortage of kittens. Stock levels are critically low and the shelters are all empty 👍🏻

🤣🤣🤣

sanityisamyth · 06/03/2023 09:31

henrilechat · 06/03/2023 09:24

@Emmamoo89
Why are you making your cat have a litter of kittens before doing the responsible thing and getting her spayed? Cats just have biological urges to mate, they don't actually feel a need to experience motherhood! I've looked after a number of cats having their first litter (worked for cat shelter) and they don't usually seem super thrilled about the whole thing. Neither are we in need of more kittens in this country.

Very well said.

Wolfiefan · 06/03/2023 09:31

@Emmamoo89 your cat doesn’t need to have a litter. It’s not “letting” them become parents. It’s putting them at risk.
@missingthesunshine call your vet today to ask if you can spay asap. And discuss planning the same for any other unneutered cats.