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My cat has pregnancy symptoms. Is she pregnant? What should I do?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Female | unspayed | 1 year and 11 months old | 5.5 lbs

Yes, yes, I know you can’t tell if my cat is pregnant by pictures. But if she IS she would be having her kittens in 2-3 weeks. Does she look accurate to a cat that has been pregnant for that long? She has been nesting I believe, eating more, nipples becoming darker, hasn’t been heat for April or May, and her stomach has grown almost twice its size in just 3 weeks. I don’t have enough money for an ultrasound though. What should I do? Thanks- Liz

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4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Mara Howard, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on May 23rd, 2018

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!

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    Answered By Destini R. Holloway, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on June 23rd, 2017

    We unfortunately wouldn't be able to tell just from a photo. Most cats have a little sac normally down by their belly and are not pregnant. If you suspect she is pregnant then the only way to know for sure is to have her belly radiographed by your vet around the 45 day mark, post copulation. Also an ultrasound can pick up on fetal heartbeats after day 25. So count the days it has been since her last hear cycle and continue to monitor her weight until the 45 day mark. If she is gaining a considerable amount of weight then it is best having her examined by your vet first to have her belly palpated to check for moving kittens, then a radiograph can confirm how many kittens are present. I hope everything works out well for both you and Angel. Take care.

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    Answered By Jessica Keay, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on June 23rd, 2017

    The most commons sign of pregnancy that an owner may notice is the cat's belly becoming rounder and the nipples becoming more prominent. They can take on more of a pink color in some cats. We cannot tell just a by a photo whether or not your kitty is pregnant. I would recommend an exam by her vet. Depending on how far along she may be in pregnancy, they may be able to palpate (feel) and enlarged uterus or the kittens. We can also do x-ray, ultrasound, or blood testing to confirm pregnancy. More info can be found at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1738

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on February 18th, 2018

    It's certainly possible that Pretty Girl could be pregnant, but without seeing her in person, there's no way for me to accurate say how long she would be her in pregnancy. As early as three to four weeks of pregnancy, the nipples can become enlarged and redder, but she could be further along than that. The best way to know for sure is to take her into the vet tomorrow. The vet can diagnose if she is pregnant, give a more accurate of how far along she may be, and if she is far enough along, she may be able to have x-rays done to see how many kittens she is carrying. Good luck, I hope this helps!

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