# I think my cat is pregnant... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 18, 2012, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-my-cat-is-pregnant/619194 "2012-04-18T18:41:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-my-cat-is-pregnant/619194/41 "2012-05-20T00:22:37Z")
Bumping to hint for news - I hope everything is ok… ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-my-cat-is-pregnant/619194/42 "2012-05-20T01:00:45Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > Of course you \*could \*have put aside or raised $50 in three years to have her spayed (that’s less than a penny a day) While I agree with your point, I disagree with your math. A penny a day amounts to $3.65 in one year, or $10.95 in three years. Oh, wait. Were you using cat years? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-my-cat-is-pregnant/619194/43 "2012-05-20T01:51:04Z")
> [@SnakesCatLady](#): > > Bumping to hint for news - I hope everything is ok… I’m hoping for good news - that she’s been so busy with Little Fighter that she has had no time to post here. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-my-cat-is-pregnant/619194/44 "2012-05-20T01:52:37Z")
I’ve got my fingers crossed for that little kitten too. Sounds like Lily is doing everything she could to save it. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-my-cat-is-pregnant/619194/45 "2012-05-20T02:30:28Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > While I agree with your point, I disagree with your math. A penny a day amounts to $3.65 in one year, or $10.95 in three years. > Oh, wait. Were you using cat years? WHY do I ever try, seriously. Sorry ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Sarabellum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarabellum/32/3492_2.png) [@Sarabellum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarabellum)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-my-cat-is-pregnant/619194/46 "2012-05-20T14:33:56Z")
She mentioned that the baby has been peeing and pooping, so that is a really good sign. I’ve heard that orphaned kittens shouldn’t be introduced to clumping kitty litter for some time, as they might eat some of it, which can be fatal for a tiny GI tract. Here’s hoping that she pulls through. You’re doing a good thing by trying, OP. ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheField](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/13edae/32.png) [@LilyoftheField](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheField)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-my-cat-is-pregnant/619194/47 "2012-05-20T19:29:08Z")
> [@Sarabellum1976](#): > > She mentioned that the baby has been peeing and pooping, so that is a really good sign. I’ve heard that orphaned kittens shouldn’t be introduced to clumping kitty litter for some time, as they might eat some of it, which can be fatal for a tiny GI tract. > > Here’s hoping that she pulls through. > > You’re doing a good thing by trying, OP. I’ve heard the same - but it is probably a good week or two before that will become an issue. In the meantime, she is now 8 days old and still obnoxious, screechy, demanding, rebellious, recalcitrant and plump! I’m thinking plump is only a good thing at this point, as long as she is not constipated, which she is not! I really have to ‘woo’ her now to get her to stick with that bottle for longer than a minute or two. So, I end up having to put her down for a bit and then going back to it - seems to be working! I take the time with her right now to let her take a break from nursing to explore blanket mounds - I’m thinking that this gives her the same experience she would normally have, climbing over littermates to get to that favored nipple. So, even though she takes longer between feedings, the actual feeding part takes longer 'cuz its broken up between times when she needs to climb around and explore her environment for a bit before she goes back to the nipple… Anyway…I haven’t posted pics 'cuz i"m pretty retarded about that - I think that I have to have a pic posting site, which I just haven’t taken the time to set up as yet. I have only just now been able to post pics to my FB account, but even that required coaching - I am a bit computer retarded - sorry! We will get there - be patient! In the meantime - so far, so good! ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-my-cat-is-pregnant/619194/48 "2012-05-20T21:36:19Z")
I absolutely love and adore all the runts and survivor pets; so sorry for Maddie, so happy and hopeful that this little one will scratch her way on to replace her. ---
**Author:** ![Sarabellum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarabellum/32/3492_2.png) [@Sarabellum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarabellum)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-my-cat-is-pregnant/619194/49 "2012-05-20T23:07:27Z")
I read somewhere that a few pairs of rolled-up socks can be substitute littermates for an orphaned kitten. Nice little bumpy buddies to climb over and snuggle with, I guess. Might be worth a try. I’ve heard of people using Beanie Babies for this purpose, also. ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheField](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/13edae/32.png) [@LilyoftheField](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheField)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-my-cat-is-pregnant/619194/50 "2012-05-20T23:35:39Z")
> [@Sarabellum1976](#): > > I read somewhere that a few pairs of rolled-up socks can be substitute littermates for an orphaned kitten. Nice little bumpy buddies to climb over and snuggle with, I guess. Might be worth a try. I’ve heard of people using Beanie Babies for this purpose, also. oh, I am totally going to try that! I feel bad for her that she doesn’t have any littermates to cuddle up to - I even thought about getting her a small stuffed animal… Then, I thought, wait! Just because a stuffed animal looks the ‘same’ to me, doesn’t mean that she will be dumb enough to fall for it, lol. But I can do the rolled up sock thing and I’m sure the effect will be the same for her…it’s certainly worth a try - I have tons of odd socks already! thanks for the suggestion… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2012, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-my-cat-is-pregnant/619194/51 "2012-05-21T00:14:07Z")
Yippee! Little Fighter is still fighting! Cheers for **LilyoftheField** and Little Fighter! ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2012, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-my-cat-is-pregnant/619194/52 "2012-05-21T00:14:10Z")
And yes…at some point you are going to have to post pics 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2012, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-my-cat-is-pregnant/619194/53 "2012-05-21T02:24:32Z")
> [@](#): > > I really have to ‘woo’ her now to get her to stick with that bottle for longer than a minute or two. So, I end up having to put her down for a bit and then going back to it - seems to be working! I found out that kittens need to be burped, and then they’re usually interested in the bottle again. I’d gently rub my fingers along their little ribs, and be rewarded with a burp. Give it a try. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2012, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-my-cat-is-pregnant/619194/54 "2012-05-21T02:53:41Z")
> [@SnakesCatLady](#): > > Yippee! Little Fighter is still fighting! > > Cheers for **LilyoftheField** and Little Fighter! You took the words out of my mouth. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2012, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-my-cat-is-pregnant/619194/55 "2012-05-21T20:08:26Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > I found out that kittens need to be burped, and then they’re usually interested in the bottle again. I’d gently rub my fingers along their little ribs, and be rewarded with a burp. Give it a try. omg, that is such a DUH and yet I’ve never thought of that either. :smack: I’m guessing that when in a ‘normal’ situation, crawling over and fighting it out with the other kitties probably provides a natural burping opportunity. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2012, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-my-cat-is-pregnant/619194/56 "2012-05-21T21:23:46Z")
I bet there’s nothing cuter than a kitten burp. StG ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2012, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-my-cat-is-pregnant/619194/57 "2012-05-21T21:28:24Z")
[Kitten burps!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGQh1I5r9EU) ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-my-cat-is-pregnant/619194/58 "2012-05-23T17:06:03Z")
way to go!!! that is a fighter kitty right there! the fiestier the wee one, the better chance they have. for malenka’s first litter box i used the container from stouffer’s mac and cheese. just plain clay litter, no clumps. she started using it between week 2 and 3. she looked like a wee bear cub at the time. it is amazing at how much more they can do day by day. then comes the big change. it seems like over night they go from being a bear cub to a wee little kitten! with kitty cat mittens instead of bear claws, and puffy little kitten whiskers. i have a good feeling about this wee one. oop, forgot. the cutest funniest thing is when a kitten this size gets hiccups. so funny, and the force of the hic really scoots them. ---
**Author:** ![Das\_Glasperlenspiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/das_glasperlenspiel/32/2944_2.png) [@Das\_Glasperlenspiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Das_Glasperlenspiel)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-my-cat-is-pregnant/619194/59 "2012-05-23T17:31:50Z")
On another (now defunct) board, one of the members raised a kitten from still-wet newborn to maturity and followed her progress on-line. You can still see the posts and pics at [www.tammew.net](http://www.tammew.net). Great pics and probably some good advice too! ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheField](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/13edae/32.png) [@LilyoftheField](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheField)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-my-cat-is-pregnant/619194/60 "2012-05-23T19:52:13Z")
She is 11 days old today - and I am certain now of the gender! She is still a feisty little brat who complains constantly when she is awake. After all I’ve done for her and all she does is complain! I guess I can’t blame her at all. Life has been a bit brutal for the little scrap… I was concerned this morning 'cuz it seemed like she was making more ‘snorty’ type noises and it seemed like one of her eyes might be a bit weepy. I was afraid that she might be getting a respiratory illness, which could be the kiss of death for her. Taking her to a vet at this point is not an option. Even if I could throw vast sums of money for her care, which I can’t, I’m afraid to expose her to the risks of travel, becoming chilled and exposing her to other animals - its too big a risk, she needs to hang on for a few more weeks before that is a viable option. But when she woke up for her next feeding, she seemed fine. No more snorting (perhaps she had just been eating too fast, or kitty hiccuping, or…well, I don’t know…) Her left eye is looking a little more slitty than the right and I think both eyes should open before the end of the week. No more signs of weepiness, so she may have just had a bit of milk smearing her tiny face. I hope… She is now going longer between feedings, sometimes as long as five hours, but she takes more time per feeding. She nurses longer and more often when she is awake. But she still sleeps most of the time. Since her sense of smell is probably becoming more developed by now, I have taken to throwing whatever t-shirt I was wearing the day before, into her box with her when I put her down for her nap, hoping that the scent that she associates now with food will comfort her. I think it must help, 'cuz when I check on her she is curled up sleeping on my shirt. Yes, I burp her…yes, I wipe her little butt to encourage elimination and then clean up the nasty results! (you wouldn’t think anything that small could produce something so stinky, but - oh, yeah - and just like with a human baby, you think, this is a good thing!) I give her a few minutes when she is awake to just crawl around on the bed, but she tends to abuse this privilege and constantly scale blankets and pillows, seeking, seeking…what? Her momma? Her littermates? They are not to be found, but she never stops seeking… I put a couple of rolled up socks in her bed and she does seem to buddy up to them, so I will leave them there - anything that mimics the environment that she ‘should be’ in, can only be a good thing. Now, I am worried for myself. 'Cuz I’m selfish and I want to avoid pain. Because she is far from being out of the danger zone, and I have become…attached. In spite of my resistance, I have an emotional attachment now - and I totally did not want this! I wanted to stay unemotional and aloof and rational, and, yes - do what I needed to do, but without emotional involvement. I was sure that I could maintain this, at least while her eyes were still sealed closed! (not sure why that makes a difference…) But, if she dies now, and I have to be realistic and know that this is still a good possibility…I think my little grinch heart may just break… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-my-cat-is-pregnant/619194.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-my-cat-is-pregnant/619194.md?page=4)