Assumed cat is pregnant and now shes showing signs of heat.

Question
QUESTION: The last time my cat was out for the evening was 8 weeks ago. We had just
returned from a trip, and didn't notice whether she was in heat or not. She's
since showed all the signs of pregnancy including lactation, swollen pink
nipples and belly is even swollen. All the signs seem to have been timed
accurately against what I've read online. She's a very vocal Asian cat, and we
practically have conversations. But, when she started doing more calling than
normal today (she calls for the kids all the time), pushing with her back legs,
lowering herself and rolling around, I wondered what was going on. I've read
the other articles about false pregnancy, but am still confused. I haven't been
able to see any movement in her abdomen, and I've felt her stomach and am
not positive I've felt kittens. I'm not really sure how to do that anyway. When I
do press, behind her nipples become hard lumps and white milk droplets
come out. I think she has been producing milk for maybe 2 1/2 weeks or so,
and the skin on her lower abdomen is pink. There are no experienced vets
where I am located.

She's

ANSWER: Julie,

It is more likely she reabsorbed the litter than had a false pregnancy.  If she is truly in heat, she will reabsorb the milk and reduce her weight and body to normal.  IF this does not happen and she does not miscarry, you might see if you can find a vet and make sure there is nothing still in her uterus.

Producing milk for 2 1/2 weeks is not normal.  Usually, when they carry to term the milk can come a week before labor or when the kittens are born or anything in between.  I would watch her closely for any signs of illness.

Cat gestation is normally 65-67 days (with 63 days being a normal minimum and 69 days being a normal maximum). 8 weeks is 56 days, so it still sounds to me as if she recently reabsorbed!

Please let me know what happens.

Best regards... Norm.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your reply! I didn't realize she could have reabsorbed the
kittens. Her body seems to be taking a while to readjust. I'll be keeping a
close eye on her per your suggestions. She's eating well and active - so far,
so good. Below is a little more information.

In Feb '08, the vet gave my cat contraception (a kind designed for women in a
cat size dose), and was too afraid to do a spay. (I'm in a part of Asia where
good vets are hard to find.) The injection was supposed to last for 3 months.
During that time, she went through a mild heat cycle at around 7 months old
for maybe 2 days and we kept her inside. I was wondering if the
contraception would somewhat diminish the intensity of the heat cycle. The
cycle she is going through now at around 13 months is very obvious, though,
and she spends the better part of the day and night calling and behaving as I
described earlier. I felt her abdomen again, and feel no signs of kittens
although she has gained weight. Other than looking a little flabby, she's
doesn't seem to have anything in her uterus and is behaving fine. There is no
vet around here with x-ray or ultrasound equipment. They barely have that
technology for humans here.

Answer
Julie,

In general, with human drugs, especially hormones, there has been much veterinary research done on what is appropriate for cats and not.  It sounds as if she was given an incorrect dosage of some hormones and her body is having some difficulty settling down.  There is much controversy in the veterinary community about the long term safety of such treatments and this is by no means settled.

I know you have a problem, finding competent vets, but spaying is the best form of contraception for cats.  This is true because the heat cycles, eventually may impact a cat's health if she is not bred.

For now, it seems you best option is to leave her alone until you can get her to a place with some higher levels of veterinary skill.

You might want to subscribe to an e-mail list called fanciers health for cats by sending an e-mail to:

fanciershealth-subscribe@yahoogroups.com


This list may be an excellent way to get veterinary advice given the lack of feline veterinarian skill where you live.

Best regards... Norm.