We took in a mum cat and her 5 kittens 2 weeks ago. The kittens are now 4 weeks old.
Yesterday she escaped (complete accident, we had left the door to the room they're in open and she darted out of the back door and over the fence at lightening speed) and she was out of the house for about 12 hours. We panicked, bought kitten formula and started hand feeding the kittens thinking she might not come back, but she appeared in the early hours of this morning.
She had showed no signs of being in heat, no calling or anything but I read online they can go into "silent call" as to not attract other cats to their kittens so that's why she went out.
Whilst we were waiting for her to come back a random cat appeared at the back gate (presumably a Tom who had picked up on her scent) so that's making me think maybe she was in heat and we unfortunately didn't realise.
What are the chances she's pregnant again? We were going to have her spayed and chipped and keep her with us once the babies were weaned which should be in a couple of weeks. Could a spay still be performed in a few weeks if she is in fact pregnant?
I feel awful but unfortunately the original situation was out of our hands, all we can do now is try and provide her (and her kittens) with a good, safe life.