Expert: Jessica - 1/23/2010

Question
I rescued a cat who was homeless for three years (people have identified to this) She was feral and had a hole in her foot. We had it lanced and treated two times and she was on antibiotic for three weeks. We found out she was pregnant. Only window to have done this was before Nov 14. Vet confirmed pregnancy in beginning of Dec. Still no kittens it has been at least 69 days for even a possibility of pregnancy since we have her at shelter. She has own room and goes back to vets on Tuesday since we had assumed she would have had kittens by then easily..Should have had them last week! She seems healthy and we are afraid of taking  her to vets and stressing her if kittens are still viable..(see no movement), has own birthing room and had litters before this. Is friendly with us rolls and stretches. eats well..Should we wait until Tuesday? Just incase as she will be very stressed to go back into a carrier and to a vet once again..she is friendly with us but frightens easily. Today has to be at least day 70.Or should we wait as long as she does not seem in distress? For a few days anyway. There is no way she has become pregnant after Nov 14 for certain!

Answer
Hi Danna.  I would definitely get her to the vet sooner than Tuesday.  The worst thing that is likely to happen if she gets stressed out is that she'd go into labor, and she is clearly full-term, so this is no threat.  

If she is visibly pregnant but there is no movement of the fetuses, it could indicate that the kittens have died, and this is immediately life-threatening to the mother.  She will need to undergo an emergency spay to save her life if this is the case.

However, if she doesn't necessarily appear to be full-term, or she isn't lactating, it's possible the pregnancy has ended.  Some cats miscarry and consume the fetal tissue without the owner's ever noticing.  And many cat pregnancies, as many as 40%, end in what's called fetal resorption.  Before 4-5 weeks along, the body absorbs the fetuses for unknown reasons.  So confirmed pregnancies just disappear.

If you get her to the vet and all seems well, the vet will probably induce labor, considering that she is clearly full-term.  This is done with an injection of Pitocin.  X-rays could be necessary to ensure there is no physical reason preventing her from delivering the kittens on her own.  If she is unable to deliver the kittens naturally, a cesarean will be needed.

Best of luck!

Jessica