Expert: Tina - 12/14/2008

Question
Hi,I found a cat two days ago and it's fat.I don't know if it has babies or just fat.How do you know if it has babies or not?

Answer
Hi Emily,

Usually you can tell is a female cat is pregnant or recently gave birth and is nursing babies because her nipples will be prominent and engorged, like this:

http://www.marvistavet.com/assets/images/Pregnant_Cat.gif

If you suspect she is pregnant you can take her to the vet for a quick visit and they can feel if she has kittens.

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_giving_birth_to_kittens.html

If she is pregnant, can you keep her in the house confined and let her have the babies at your home? You can contact local rescue groups and shelters to help find them home sand get them and the mother spayed and neutered.

If she's already had the kittens, feed her daily and watch her, follow her to find where she has them hidden. If you can catch the mother cat, bring her and all the babies inside where they are safe from predators.