I have with me a female cat. About 16 months old.

Has a slightly swollen belly on both sides and her nipples are a pinky/red.

Other than putting her on kitten food what else do I do?

Is it too late to get her spayed? Is there such a thing as abortion for cats?

Advice welcome.

Yes, there is such a thing as abortion for cats, except it's called an abort-spay. Queens can be spayed up as far as about 5-6 weeks gestation. The earlier the better though, so if you're thinking about this option see a vet as soon as possible. The risks to the queen are minimal up to 5-6 weeks.

In terms of other things you can do, if you're going to be going through with the pregnancy you need to worm her, but you can't use Drontal if she's pregnant. The vet will be able to supply the right stuff. Also keep the flea loading down the best you can. You can't Frontline her whilst she's carrying, but you can spray a flea comb and then comb the little blighters off every couple of days to reduce their numbers.

Start acquiring cardboard boxes and stuff you can use as bedding and keep her inside and comfortable- other than that there's not a lot that you can do at this stage.

Yes, there is such a thing as abortion for cats, except it's called an abort-spay. Queens can be spayed up as far as about 5-6 weeks gestation. The earlier the better though, so if you're thinking about this option see a vet as soon as possible. The risks to the queen are minimal up to 5-6 weeks.

In terms of other things you can do, if you're going to be going through with the pregnancy you need to worm her, but you can't use Drontal if she's pregnant. The vet will be able to supply the right stuff. Also keep the flea loading down the best you can. You can't Frontline her whilst she's carrying, but you can spray a flea comb and then comb the little blighters off every couple of days to reduce their numbers.

Start acquiring cardboard boxes and stuff you can use as bedding and keep her inside and comfortable- other than that there's not a lot that you can do at this stage.

i think i will have a word with jackie and take her to the vets. :)

Be aware that some vets wont spay her if they know she's pregnant, so your best bet is to act as though she's not. As i say, it is only some vets so it might not be a problem. Depends on how far gone she is really.

Be aware that some vets wont spay her if they know she's pregnant, so your best bet is to act as though she's not. As i say, it is only some vets so it might not be a problem. Depends on how far gone she is really.

I wouldnt lie to a vet. Plus i think they would be able to tell anyway.

As I say, it depends on the vet and how far gone she is, if it's very early they can't always tell until they actually start the procedure.
If she's early it could look as though she's had them rather than having them.
I wouldn't lie to a vet either, it was just a suggestion if youre really set on having her done before it's too late.

As I say, it depends on the vet and how far gone she is, if it's very early they can't always tell until they actually start the procedure.
If she's early it could look as though she's had them rather than having them.
I wouldn't lie to a vet either, it was just a suggestion if youre really set on having her done before it's too late.

Her tummy feels hard on both sides.

I just wish I knew how far gone she is.

Her tummy feels hard on both sides.

I just wish I knew how far gone she is.

There's no real way that you can tell unfortunately. The best thing I can suggest to you is to get her to a vet who can have a stab at how close to delivery she is (which is important for planning if she has them too).

It's difficult to know how far gone they are, your best bet would probably be to ring round your local vets, explain the situation and find out who would be willing to do it. You don't want to get her booked in, take her and them not do it. By the time you got her booked in somewhere else it could be too late, and they may still charge you something like a consulation fee. If her bellys not too swollen it's probably still early. Don't panic :)

It's difficult to know how far gone they are, your best bet would probably be to ring round your local vets, explain the situation and find out who would be willing to do it. You don't want to get her booked in, take her and them not do it. By the time you got her booked in somewhere else it could be too late, and they may still charge you something like a consulation fee. If her bellys not too swollen it's probably still early. Don't panic :)

I just phoned hallam vets where we have our pets registered and they said most people just let cats get on with it and dont normally bring them in for a check up unless they seem unwell. That shocked me slightly. :confused:

This assumes that most people are happy for her to have the kittens. Most cat pregnancies are very healthy and people generally know when she disappeared to make the babies so can plan for their arrival.

It is the best way sometimes, cats are often better off left to it. Even young ones who've not had a litter before cope well. When she's ready to have them she'll probably get out of sight somewhere quiet and just get on with it. Pregnancys usually pretty straightforward for them too, they don't have many special needs or requirements. it does sound strange but it's true. It may be an idea to get her checked out at some point, just for piece of mind really

As I say, it depends on the vet and how far gone she is, if it's very early they can't always tell until they actually start the procedure.

But if they know in advance, they can better plan the procedure. If they don't know, they're unprepared for it.

And aren't abort spays usually done midline? And most vets routinely spay cats on the side so wouldn't it be better to know so they can do a midline?

I don't know - that's just how it strikes me.

Yes, abort spays are a midline procedure. Most vets regard abort spays as urgent so will book them in a day or two in advance like surgery for an injury, rather than weeks in advance like routine spays and neuters.

I've known some cats go in pregnant without anyone knowing and not be done midline, but i guess it depends how far the pregnancys gone, if its early they might be able to do it as they normally would. *shrugs* I'm no expert

Hi Tatty - if it looks as if she IS pregnant and beyond abortion, I'd be tempted to get some Cimicat and a feeding bottle/set in, for when the little ones are born. Having just lost one of the 4 kitties Ash gave birth to. You might not end up using it but at least it's there if you do. We also kep our soft cat carrier up and put a waterproof backed sheet in the base and a fleecy blanket on top, and we were fortunate that Ashia chose to give birth in that, rather than on our bed.

Whilst she was carrying, we gave her access to plenty of good quality kitten food, both wet and dried (Royal Canin) and occasionally Whiskas cat milk. We carried on grooming her and did not seclude her from the rest of the household because she would have hated to be on her own, being such a sociable cat. For the first 3 weeks after the little ones were born, we did keep her apart from the other cats and the dobermutt, in the warmest room in the house, but always had a radio on (and she had the cockatiel for company!). We decided to bring her downstairs after 3 weeks so she and her babies could get used to being part of our mad-house, but only let our other cats investigate the new intruders from a distance at first - no worries about infection though as all are vaccinated.

Good luck with her- sounds like you're getting into this fostering thing in a big way!

Is she one of Jackies cats? if so she should be responsible for getting her spayed?