Expert: Jessica - 10/12/2009

Question
I am beginning to think my 6 month old cat is pregnant. She has gained alot of weight recently and has become increasingly affectionate. She is normally a low maintenance cat and lately has been demanding alot of my attention. I have felt what I believe are kittens in her tummy. How do I tell if she is pregnant or not? I am on a limited budget and cant afford a vet visit unless its absolutely necessary. She only got outside 1 time and there is a tomcat that lives next door. What are the chances of her being pregnant and becoming a nurturing mama?

Answer
Hi Crystal.  If your kitty was in estrus (heat) when she got outside, chances are fairly good she is pregnant.  Cats are induced ovulators, meaning that they ovulate each time they mate.  This is why most breedings result in a pregnancy.

It can be very difficult to tell if a cat is pregnant unless a vet confirms it.  The signs that you have observed are consistent with pregnancy.  By the fourth week, you should notice pink, enlarged nipples, and by the seventh week, the mammary area should be swollen.  This is also the time when I begin to feel the movements of the kittens.  But the best ways to confirm pregnancy are an x-ray or a pregnancy test performed on a blood sample.  I prefer x-rays, which may be done in the last 4 weeks (5-6 weeks into the pregnancy), as they let you know how many kittens to expect.  Blood tests are accurate around 30 days from conception.

Chances that she would become a nurturing mama are not the greatest.  Since she is still so young, there is the potential that she may not be able to produce milk, as her own growing body may require all the nutrients she takes in to support it.  If she is physically able to support a litter, she may not be prepared mentally.  Maternal instinct doesn't really reach maturation until cats are about a year old.  Many very young mothers just don't know what to do with a litter.

I would be prepared to bottle feed this litter if she is pregnant.  If she does, indeed, care for the babies, I would still recommend supplementing them with kitten formula, as her young body cannot afford to meet the demands of feeding a litter.  At this age, she is about as developed as an 11-year-old girl.  She will need lots of help if she is to get through this healthily!

It would be highly advisable to have her examined by a vet, however.  Some 6-month-olds can handle delivering a litter, but some are far too small.  If she does not appear physically able, the safest idea would be to end the pregnancy by having her spayed, unfortunately.  Even the healthiest of cats have lost their lives during delivery, and a young kitten is at exceptional risk.

I hope all goes smoothly!

Jessica