Shelter is not sure if foster cat is pregnant?

[RedGingerRoot]

I’m new to fostering cats, especially a young female who may be in the early stages of pregnancy. The shelter said she may be pregnant, but hadn’t done a blood test before sending her home with me.
I’m used to fostering large dogs who have come from an abusive history and need extra attention and work.
Anyways, this sweet little girl has been with us for about 2 weeks. I have noticed that she is sleeping a lot, and is super affectionate.
Without a blood test, how do I know for sure if she is pregnant or not? The only other cat experience I have is with old male cats. We have 17yr old male, he was neutered when a kitten, and he is more active than her.

 

[StefanZ]

If her teats are rosy (hindbear rosy) is a fairly sure sign. Otherwise it may be difficult in early stages.
But her sleeping a lot and being very affectionate MAY hint a pregnancy. Unless she is just very nice cat, and grateful for getting a good home.

A little peculiar is they didnt just spayed her. In Sweden we usually spay earliest at 6 months, but in USA the routine is to spay them young.

 

[Norachan]

RedGingerRoot Do you know anything about her history? How long was she at the shelter before she came to you?

She looks tiny. I think if she was pregnant she'd have to be in the very early stages and so it is possible to spay her now. No one likes suggesting that a cat be spay-aborted, but if your shelters are full and it's difficult to find good homes for cats it's fairly common to spay all female cats unless they are very close to giving birth.

Did the shelter say anything about getting her spayed? If she's not pregnant and she goes into heat it's going to be a bit of a nightmare keeping her indoors and coping with the vocalizations

 

[RedGingerRoot]

If her teats are rosy (hindbear rosy) is a fairly sure sign. Otherwise it may be difficult in early stages.
But her sleeping a lot and being very affectionate MAY hint a pregnancy. Unless she is just very nice cat, and grateful for getting a good home.

A little peculiar is they didnt just spayed her. In Sweden we usually spay earliest at 6 months, but in USA the routine is to spay them young.

They had her on a 3 day stray hold and the last night of her stray hold, after the shelter closed for adoptions, they sent her home with me. I was already there with my foster dog was getting adopted and they said they had her and 2 other females who had both given birth earlier that day that were needing immediate placement for. I wasn’t prepared for newborns at the time and opted for her.

 

[RedGingerRoot]

RedGingerRoot Do you know anything about her history? How long was she at the shelter before she came to you?

She looks tiny. I think if she was pregnant she'd have to be in the very early stages and so it is possible to spay her now. No one likes suggesting that a cat be spay-aborted, but if your shelters are full and it's difficult to find good homes for cats it's fairly common to spay all female cats unless they are very close to giving birth.

Did the shelter say anything about getting her spayed? If she's not pregnant and she goes into heat it's going to be a bit of a nightmare keeping her indoors and coping with the vocalizations

The shelter had her and the unaltered male she was found with both in a 3 day stray hold. Someone had apparently dumped them together in an animal carrier right before it started to snow here. The shelter said the person who found them, was the community manager and after reviewing security videos that was how they were able to determine when they left. The carrier was in the bushes and they had been locked inside it with no food or water, or anything else. Just the 2 of them.
I have noticed the hair around her nipples have began to be sparse.
I was already at the shelter because my foster dog was getting adopted and they told me about her and 2 other females. The other 2 females had delivered their litters earlier that day so when the shelter closed for the day for adoptions, I opted for her so she would t be alone because the other 3 females and their litters where going home with staff members. The male she was with was going to see a specialist for his eye because he has a large ulcer in it. I haven’t seen him at the shelter since then. I go during the day when my kids are in school and help with walking the dogs and living on the cats that are up front for adoption.

 

[Norachan]

I see. So I guess the shelter prefer to let the mother cats have their kittens rather than do an early pregnancy spay?

If she mated right before the shelter found them you wouldn't see any signs that she is pregnant yet. Cats go into heat every two to three weeks, so you might start seeing signs of her heat cycle soon if she hasn't mated. What are the shelters plans about getting her spayed?

 

[RedGingerRoot]

I see. So I guess the shelter prefer to let the mother cats have their kittens rather than do an early pregnancy spay?

If she mated right before the shelter found them you wouldn't see any signs that she is pregnant yet. Cats go into heat every two to three weeks, so you might start seeing signs of her heat cycle soon if she hasn't mated. What are the shelters plans about getting her spayed?

Her nipples have started to turn pink, so I guess she is pregnant.
The shelter said they will spay her after she has the kittens and they are weaned. They she will stay with us for her recovery, but will be made available for adoption after kittens are weaned.

 

[StefanZ]

Ok, so they probably saw she mated, and that is why they said she is in the beginning of the pregnancy. Knowing it will show in 3 weeks. The reddening happens typically around day 21.

Very peculiar they didnt spayed her, but essentially - fully conscious produced a litter of kittens.

If YOU wish to spay, its still good occasion, but do it soon while its easy and no big ethical problem.

 

[Norachan]

If you're expecting a litter of kittens now is a good time to start reading up on what to prepare for.

Pregnant Cat? What To Prepare For The Birth - TheCatSite

Help! My Cat Is Having Kittens! - The Essential Guide For Worried Owners - TheCatSite

Post-birth Complications In Cats [A Comprehensive Guide] - TheCatSite

Fading Kitten Syndrome - 11 Things You Need To Know - TheCatSite

Ask the shelter if they have an ER vet they prefer to use, or find one close to you and make sure you have their number in your phone. Just in case you need to take her for an emergency c-section or anything else goes wrong. Good luck, please keep us posted.