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Expert: - 12/31/2011


Question
My question may be somewhat long and complicated but I have had this female cat for aprox 3 years now and she was picked up as a stray, at the time I first got her her stomach seemed distended as if she was pregnant but she never had a litter of kittens. Now as time has passed she seems to have an even bigger stomach than before, I can not feel anything that feels like a tumor or growth but it feels as though her stomach is full of air or fluid, that type of destention.  She does not see to be in any pain eveb when I press on her swollen belly, she does seem to be upset when I touch the back of her legs near the tail, I have put off going to the vet because she still eats and drinks good, I do notice that she uses the litter box a little more than the others with a few more bowel movements but she doesn't seem to have trouble passing either. Other than the big belly and feeling heavy when I lift her she is just an average cat, I am also very uncertain of her age. Your opinion will be greatly appreciated.

Answer
Lori,

Is she spayed?  Assuming she is, if it were my kitty and I had unexplained distension of the belly, I would get her to a vet immediately.

I am not a vet, but cats are very stoical at masking pain and discomfort. I would be very concerned that she is feeling some discomfort at the back of the legs and in the tail area. In my experience when I have something out of the ordinary that appears to be getting worse, getting to the vet sooner is usually better than later.  If it turns out to be nothing, you will be relieved.  If it turns out to be something serious, you will be in a position to deal with it.

Please let me know what you find out.

Concerned regards... Norm.

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Norman Auspitz

Expertise

I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.

Experience

I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.


Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.

Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook

Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.

Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.

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