Everybody loves cute little kittens … but when it’s your cat that’s pregnant you might have mixed feelings. Of course, you’re worried about the momma cat and her health and comfort. And you’re super excited because who doesn’t love a kitten? No doubt you’re picking out names. But you’re also pretty apprehensive. Unless you truly are a crazy cat lady or guy, you probably can’t keep all those kittens, so you’re already starting to think of who might give them a good home.
But we’re getting way ahead of ourselves. Because there are actually some other reasons your cat may have completely convinced you that she’s pregnant. And some of those can be rather serious. So what are the signs to look for, and the alternatives to rule out, before you start trying to figure out how to knit about 24 teeny tiny little baby booties?
Your Cat Might Be Expecting If . . .

A female cat with a ravenous appetite might be eating for six. Or eight … or ….
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Here’s a checklist of things that might indicate a pregnant cat. If she has a lot of these then of course it’s looking more and more likely:
- Is she acting weirder than normal? For example, is she suddenly super-affectionate? Is she hiding a lot and avoiding people and other pets?
- Is she eating a lot and gaining weight? And is that weight showing up mainly in a distended abdomen?
- Do her nipples look different? They might be more prominent, change color a little, or leak milk.
- Cats always laze around, but is yours even more lethargic than usual, not showing interest in playing like she once did?
- Has she been throwing up more than usual? Some cats have “morning sickness” as a result of hormonal changes.
- Does she act like she’s building a nest? A pregnant cat will look for a warm, secluded place and will paw at bedding and move around to make herself comfortable on it more than usual.
These are all good signs of pregnancy, especially in combination. You might rightly think to yourself that pregnancy is a natural thing that cats have an instinct for, so it’s not a medical emergency. But it might be something else, which is why it’s important to see a vet to know for sure.
False Pregnancy

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Cats can have false pregnancy just like people can. This means they can have hormonal changes that cause nesting behavior, changes in their nipples, an enlarged belly, and milk production, without actually being pregnant. Mating can sometimes cause a cat’s hormones to change and prepare for kittens even if no conception took place. This is usually harmless and will go away in 2-3 weeks.
Obesity

Maybe your cat isn’t pregnant. Maybe she’s just fat.
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A cat might start to get overweight for a lot of different reasons. And frankly, you and I might be getting overweight for the same reasons:
- Are you and the kitty bored or stressed out? Maybe you could play an active game together?
- Do you guys snack a lot? Maybe you feel like it’s rude not to share your snacks, but even little scraps of high-calorie processed people food can cause your cat to blimp up.
- How’s the quality of your food? Is it nutritious, satisfying, and filling? If you’re feeding your cat low-quality cat food she might be constantly looking for something to eat to fill a nutritional deficit.
- Is food the way you bond? Maybe you’re busy and distracted a lot, but at mealtime, kitty has your attention, praise, and love. So she may have learned to beg for food as a way to connect with you.
Fortunately, all these things can be reversed, and working on it will make you both start feeling and looking fine.
Parasites

Worms and other parasites can create a swollen abdomen in cats.
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Roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms, coccidia, and giardia are parasites that can infest a cat’s digestive system and cause gas and fluid buildup, vomiting, a swollen abdomen, and other symptoms. If your cat is behind on her vaccinations, this could be a problem. And some of these things can infect people, so you don’t want to play around with this.
Medical Conditions

Some medications can create side effects in cats that mimic pregnancy.
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Here are some other medical conditions that can be easily mistaken for feline pregnancy:
- Medication side-effects: some medications, such as steroids, can stimulate the cat’s appetite and cause her to retain fluid, becoming swollen.
- A cat can also retain fluids and feel weak and lethargic due to heart or kidney problems.
- A dangerous uterine infection called pyometra causes swelling, vaginal discharge, fatigue, thirst, vomiting, and sometimes a fever. This only happens in females that have not been spayed.
- She might have abdominal tumors that are causing her body to swell. Don’t panic, these could just be benign lipomas, which are fatty growths that are usually harmless. It’s also possible they could be cancerous growths that will require surgery.
How a Vet Rules Out the Bad Stuff

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Cats really are unique individuals, so because you spend more time with her than anyone else, you are the world’s foremost expert on what is normal for your cat. So the vet will be very interested in what you’ve noticed about her. How has her body been changing? How is she acting oddly? Have there been any big changes in her environment that could be stressing her out?
The vet will have some ideas of what it could be and might want to do lab tests like bloodwork, a fecal sample, or a swab of any discharge to rule out parasites, infections, or other medical conditions. Sometimes ultrasounds or x-rays might be necessary to make a diagnosis. If the cat has any serious problems, the vet will walk you through how to care for her and what lifestyle changes, medications, or surgery might be required.
How a Vet Diagnoses Pregnancy

After the first three weeks of pregnancy, the vet can detect kittens in your cat by palpitating her belly.
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It takes about 2 months from conception for kittens to be born. By about the 3-week mark, an experienced vet will be able to palpitate your cat’s abdomen gently and detect whether there are kittens or not. They can also do an ultrasound to know for sure, and get an idea of how many there are. They’re not always easy to count as they are on top of each other, but later in the pregnancy the vet can do an X-ray and get a more exact idea of the number. This is good to know so you can confirm that they are all born in a reasonable amount of time.
The vet will advise you on what kind of diet to feed the new mom, how to make her extra comfortable, when and what to expect when she gives birth, and how to care for her and her newborns afterward. It’s a good idea to schedule regular checkups to make sure mom and her babies are staying healthy and developing as they should.
Congratulations, Cat Grandparent!

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Hopefully, your vet visit brought you good news of lots of new furry friends to love on. Here’s wishing you laughter, mischievous kitten stories, and tons of pictures as a proud new “cat grandparent!”
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