My 7-month-old cat shows pregnancy signs. What should I do next?

Yes it is possible for a cat to get pregnant at the age of 6 months, sometimes even at 4 months. Her nipples are indeed very big and this could point to a pregnancy. If she is gaining circumference and has been for a while, and if she had access to outside when she was in heat, then it is very likely she met a tomcat. You can have her checked by your vet (xrays or ultrasound) to check for pregnancy and also for the number of kittens, which will help determine when she is done giving birth.

Yes, I would have your cat seen by a vet if you suspect she is pregnant. At 16 months old, she is old enough to have her first litter, and cats typically do not need help giving birth. The most important thing you can do for her is set up a nesting area for her in a quiet room away from everyone. Cats prefer to give birth in quiet areas. The vet can do x-rays and/or an ultrasound to confirm she is pregnant and the vet can give you an estimate of how far along she is in her pregnancy and about how many kittens she is carrying.

While it is possible for a cat to become pregnant at such a young age, it is definitely not typical. Usually around five or six months of age is the earliest I am accustomed to seeing pregnant cats, but four months is technically possible. In terms of care and diet, I usually recommend that pregnant cats are fed a diet of kitten food rather than adult food until they have weaned their kittens entirely. I do want to caution you however that it is not uncommon for very young cats that become mothers sometimes do not treat their young appropriately. They often abandon their young or even injure them intentionally in some cases. In addition to any other special care they might need, pregnant cats must not receive most medications, including flea / tick medications. They can be toxic to the fetuses. If you want to be sure of the pregnancy status, a veterinarian will need to perform an ultrasound after a certain period of time, or an x-ray after even more time. Hope this makes sense.

She very well may be pregnant. Her belly does look abnormally big there. Watch for signs of pregnancy such as mammary gland engorgement, continued weight gain, increase in appetite. Also you can have her seen by your vet for an exam to check for fetal heartbeats or to identify the fetal skulls, via radiograph (as early as 45 days gestation). If she is suspected to be pregnant then it's also best to feed her kitten food which is going to satisfy her high calorie requirements and ensure she makes a good supply of milk for her kittens. Best of luck with Flash. I hope everything works out well for you both.

Bella may have difficulty feeding the litter as she is still growing herself. Confirm that she is indeed pregnant first. Your veterinarian may be able to do this via palpation or abdominal x-ray. If it is early enough, consider having her spayed for her health and safety and to prevent unwanted or accidental litters in the future. If you decide to leave her intact, she will need to be monitored closely throughout the pregnancy, delivery and raising of the litter until weaning.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Mia does look like her abdomen is mildly distended, which may be due to pregnancy, or may be secondary to another underlying issue (fluid accumulation, etc.). If she is pregnant and her expected due date is in 2-3 weeks, an xray can verify pregnancy, as well as count how many kittens (if any) she is going to have (and sometimes kittens can be felt on physical examination). I would recommend having her evaluated by your regular veterinarian to determine if she is pregnant or if she has another underlying issue that needs to be addressed. Good luck!

You may see swollen, pink nipples, some "morning sickness", increased appetite, weight gain and a distended abdomen. Without a physical exam though, a determination of pregnancy cannot be made definitively. Ideally, she should be examined by a veterinarian. An abdominal x-ray or ultrasound can confirm pregnancy.