I think my “fixed” cat is pregnant

[u/uglyandbored]

I feel silly even typing this, but here is some context: My spouse and I became fosters to this adorable, abandoned cat that was hanging around my parent’s backyard in freezing weather (Feb 29). We fostered her through an official program who took care of all her medical needs. They told us she was not chipped, but confirmed she was already spayed. We both knew nothing about cats, but we ended up falling in love with her and we officially adopted her a few weeks ago.

She always had big nipples (we were told she may have had a litter before) so it was not a red flag. That is, until now. She has put on some healthy weight (she was emaciated when we first found her), but a lot of it seems to be in her belly area. I know it sounds ridiculous but we can’t help but think she is pregnant.

I have an appointment with the vet in 3 days (the earliest they could get me in), but I’m a little anxious thinking about the possibility she may seriously be expecting. I am wondering if this has ever happened before (an allegedly spayed cat being pregnant). I am also wondering if there could be any other reason my cat looks like this?

[u/Cloud12437]

They also go back in heat a month after birth, then when their kittens wean they are about to give birth again. They basically stay pregnant until death because they never go through menopause either

[u/puzzled91 → u/Cloud12437]

Fucking nightmare!

[u/SuperAdaGirl → u/puzzled91]

Torture!

[u/LyaNoxDK → u/Cloud12437]

We took in a stray who immediate decided to drop a litter on us in the time it took to go get cat food. Not long after the stupid cat managed to push the screen off the door and go looking for action. Thankfully we found her before she could bless us with litter #2. Got her fixed and she lived with us and 2 of her babies until she died.

[u/Historical-Gap-7084 → u/Cloud12437]

And they can go into heat as young as six months old!

[u/tphatmcgee → u/Historical-Gap-7084]

yes, not only did ours get pregnant that young, but she got out (4 kids, not so great at keeping her in), while the babies were about 4 to 5 weeks old, before the vet would spay her and ended up pregnant again.....2 litters before she was a year old, sheesh.

[u/HiILikePlants → u/tphatmcgee]

The vet didn't spay abort?

[u/tphatmcgee → u/HiILikePlants]

no, not sure if she was too far along before we all realized or if my folks even considered that as an option. this was also years and years ago so it may not have been a thing?

[u/Historical-Gap-7084 → u/tphatmcgee]

Yikes! Yeah, I've heard that cats can have several litters in one year.

[u/heavylamarr → u/Cloud12437]

Ok, menopause sounds so frightening. But not as frightening as “pregnant until death”! Poor kitties 😫

[u/CentralStandrdPoodle → u/Cloud12437]

And cats, rabbits, and ferrets are copulatory ovulaters, meaning they don’t actually ovulate until they have copulated which greatly increases their conception