My clingy, active cat has a big belly and walks slow. Is she pregnant?

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.

"Mama" is a very pretty girl! :) I agree that her abdomen definitely looks enlarged. It's possible that she could be pregnant, but the enlarged belly could also be caused by something else such as an abdominal tumor, heart or liver disease, or FIP (feline infectious peritonitis). Cats are only pregnant for 64 days on average, so if her belly has been swollen like this for more than a few weeks or so, I would be very concerned that something else is wrong. The best way to find out would be to take her to the vet for an exam - he/she can palpate her abdomen and may also recommend x-rays or ultrasound to help determine for sure what's going on.

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.

Hello. It does sound like your cat is pregnant. Female cats often seem to become more affectionate & content when they are pregnant. The hair loss may be related to normal shedding, but often in pregnancy, some hair loss will occur. I would switch her food from a maintenance or adult cat food to a kitten food. Feed her the kitten food for the rest of her pregnancy & while she nurses the kittens. Once the kittens start to wean onto solid food ( at about 3-4 weeks of age ) you can slowly transition her back to her regular adult cat food. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello. It is very difficult to say if she is or is not pregnant from these pictures, because if she is only carrying 1 or 2 kittens, then she would not be as big as one carrying 4-6 kittens. And if she is truly 68 days into a pregnancy, she is overdue. If she does have kittens you should be able to rub on her abdomen & feel some substantial "bumps" at this point in time. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I wouldn't be too concerned about this. Especially if you have confirmed she is indeed pregnant. This is a very subjective assessment. I would try weighing her to determine if her weight is actually fluctuating. All sorts of things can cause her stomach to look bigger including a full stomach after a meal, gas accumulation in the intestines and stomach, and feces along the intestines due to slow motility. These are all probably caused by the pregnancy and the limited amount of room that is now available in Angels abdomen. As long as she is still eating, drinking, urinating and defecating normally I wouldn't be too concerned. If she is acting abnormal or if you aren't sure if she is actually pregnant, then a visit to the vet for an exam is highly recommended. Best wishes with Angel moving forward. Take care.

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!