How can I tell if my kitten is PREGNANT? And other questions...

**catland** · 01-03-2003, 06:45 PM

I think its cute that you call Noel "little girl". That's our nickname for our female kitty Jan. I probably call her "Little Girl" more than I call her by her name.

**NaplesLex** · 01-03-2003, 07:04 PM

Little girl

Well I've had a hard time remembering to NOT call her little boy

Jordy's nickname is "The Jordy Boy" and Zeke's is "The little Zeke" which sometimes gets extended to "Who's not so little anymore" So now Noel is "Mommy's little girl" or "The little Noey Girl"

Ok so here are the pictures as promised. Of course, the pictures don't show what her stomach area FEELS like. The other thing is, Jordy is naturally this skinny. That's why I'm not THAT scared about seeing such a skinny cat. Plus, Noel was 5 lbs at the vet on Dec. 24 and 6 lbs here on Dec 31. Just a moment ago I weighed her and she was 5.5 so it could be the unusually large BM. Heheh. Without further ado.....

you can see her stiches sticking out here.

This pic shows it the best I think:

This was taken last week:

So can anyone see the concave-ness? Can you tell in the pics? Look at the shading of the fur just in front of her hind leg. If my palm rubs down her back, and my thumb goes on one side and my fingers go on the other (remember that old manwich commercial??) then I feel like my fingers could touch. Again though, that's the way Jordy was when he was much younger. But Noel was NOT like this last week. I guess I just have to wait till she has a few days worth of food in her again.....

**smokey the elder** · 01-05-2003, 08:25 AM

When Bosun was spayed it looked like she was super-skinny. I think it depends on the cat's build; even when she was pregnant she didn't show. Also, the shaved belly calls attention to the aft end of the cat! Even if she is underweight, I'm sure that can be fixed. Good luck.

**Cataholic** · 01-06-2003, 03:30 PM

WOW, I totally see the concave-ness in her. I think that is pretty dang impressive...not in the good way, you know? How is she looking now? I don't know what to say...but, I guess keep her away from the stitches..maybe the vet treated them with nasty stuff? My cats always got the off white ribbed sleeve to wear...and I know all vets are different, but, I woulda thought you woulda been given something....

Anyhow, she is very very cute, and I wish I could pet her, skinny and all..

**luckies4me** · 01-06-2003, 06:10 PM

The skinniness is very NORMAL in cats who are spayed. They took out her whole uterus, what do you expect? They get over it within a week. Again, NORMAL!

I am sure if she was pregnant it would have been noted in her chart, and they would have let you know.

As far as stitches, vets just usually let the animals be, no E collar or anything. If you call the vet I am sure they would be happy to offer you an e collar, at aroung $15 dollars. If she doesn't leave them alone, go get some bitter apple and that should do the trick.

Some vets will use dissapearing stitches that desolve, so that there is no need to have sutures poking out or to be removed. They are placed under the skin, you can't see them but you can feel them. They slowly dissolve while the wound is healing.

**BastetsMum** · 01-06-2003, 06:22 PM

Bastet looked like that *concave* when she was spayed. The uterus in cats is a BIG organ. The vet didn't give me an e-collar either - he said that if she touches her stitches let him know. Cats hate not being able to groom themselves and puts psychological pressure on them if they can't. Maybe your vet didn't give you a collar for that very reason. Noel looks like such a sweet little kitty. She will be fine after a good sleep and a good feed

**Nomilynn** · 01-06-2003, 07:57 PM

All three of my girls were skinny like that, and with Tilly it lasted about five days (the longest of all of them). The vet warned me though and it's perfectly normal! Even though it doesn't look very good!

**kimlovescats** · 01-06-2003, 10:00 PM

I think the "look" is normal as well .... as far as the stitches, the vets stitch them internally as well ... so even if the outer ones were pulled out, she wouldn't pop open...but you would still need to call the vet!

Most animals know (sense) how to clean and care for their own wounds ... their licking actually helps healing along! Try not to worry unless you see obvious decline in her!

**wayne0214** · 01-07-2003, 05:22 AM

After their spaying, Tiger, and Cookie were both a bit thin, but now they look pregnant, with all the weight they have put on. It takes weeks for them to fully recover from the shaving and thinness.

........wayne

**dragonchilde** · 01-07-2003, 10:13 PM

Our baby girl Wobbles had a VERY concave belly when she was spayed. However, we couldn't stop her from picking her stitches, so we had to get an e collar for her. Trust me, she was NOT happy, but she was going to pull out those stitches if it was the last thing she did. A week or two in the collar (and a very unhappy kitty) we were able to take her to have the stitches out, and she healed up nicely.

**NaplesLex** · 01-08-2003, 09:53 AM

Wow thanks for all the replies! She is not quite as concave looking today. She stopped picking at the stiches that night. But yesterday I looked at her belly and it looked like she was picking them again. But it's healing nicely and they'll come out soon anyway. It doesn't look like she's hurting herself just maybe licking them.

I did weigh her last night and she weighs 5.5. When I got her she was 5 and a week later I took her for the spay she was 6. Now she's the same as the day I brought her home, 5.5. She's not eating as much as when I first got her, I guess she's realizing the bowl will always fill back up.

She is not getting along AT ALL with Zeke and Jordy however. I am able to let her out of the room for a while, she's BETTER than when I first brought her home. She even went nose to nose with Jordy, just as I was about to say "Awwwwwwwwww" She jumped back and hissed and even clawed at Jordy. He didn't do anything to provoke it, they were just nose to nose, Noel jumped back. Then Jordy just stood there for a second looking at her as if she was not even there, then he turned around and walked away. So she spends more time out of the room, a LITTLE less time hissing, and more time with her claws out.

The biggest problem is I am moving into a house on Friday. So I'm busy packing and nothing is normal for any of them anyway. I figure once I get settled into the new house we'll start a routine and she will settle in a little better.

Thanks everyone! I'm so happy I found this place!!!

Alexis <><

**Cataholic** · 01-08-2003, 10:28 AM

Well, did I ever learn something about spaying and concaveness...I wonder if I can get 'spayed'? I would LOVE concaveness..for once in my life

My cats were sooo young when they were spayed, and I just don't remember it being so traumatic. But, it must have been

Maybe the white sock they wore kept it hidden from me.

As to the introductions and the soon new house, it may work out extra good...cause no one will have a territory, and all of them will be a bit off (well, that isn't good), but, they can all adjust together.

Good luck with the move, the unpacking, and the introductions!

**luckies4me** · 01-08-2003, 10:44 AM

Glad to hear that she is looking a little better now.

Good luck on the move and like Cataholic said, this could be a good thing. They may just need a little more time to adjust to eachother, but I'm sure that they will grow to love eachother in time, and if they not, at least tolerate eachother. Good luck again.

**NaplesLex** · 01-13-2003, 11:24 AM

WOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO!! They are getting along great now!!! They touch noses, and if Zeke or Jordy stick around longer than it takes to touch noses, Noel will hiss at them. But at least she LET'S them touch noses. And last night, I couldn't believe it. Zeke snuck up behind Noel, sniffed the top of her head without her noticing, then he started to LICK her head! And she let him! I couldn't believe it!!! Yay!!!!!!!!! This day came MUCH sooner than I expected!!!

Alexis <><

ETA: Noel's stomach is no longer concave either. She's back to normal. Stictches come out this week.