Thanks, Current Resident. I'll try to explain the "wide through the ribs" a little better. When she is on the floor and you look down at her, her middle looks sort of like a round ball, so in other words, her sides are very round and sort of bulgy instead of being flat. I tried to take a photo but she is all over the place and won't hold still.

I suppose it could just be general weight gain because she looked on the thin side when we got her, but she just started expanding a few days ago. She only weighs 6 pounds as of now and is very small.

Hubby's friend helps manage a TNR feral colony in his neighborhood and she was born to one of the newcomers. She was due to be spayed the end of the month, but I
called and explained the situation and they moved her to next week
instead. They will still do it, even if she is pregnant. I am just kind of panicking and wondering what we are going to do if she gives birth before then, or if she is too far along when we take her in next week. All the local rescues are overrun with kittens.

Ohhh gosh, we've had lots of prego cats but it's been years and years. I know it's possible but 5.5 - 6 months seems very young to me. I do remember thought that ours always got rolly poly big and weighed much more than 6lbs. If you have changed it's feeding habits and it's now eating more, it could easily gain weight, not sure about 8 oz, but if it wasn't eatting regularly or healthy maybe? ...may sound silly too and it's just a thought but with the food change are you sure she's not constipated?

lukki, thank you, I really, really hope you are right!! The vet clinic did say that she is a bit young, but it does happen. She is a little poop machine, so definitely not constipated. She eats mostly canned.

Worms can cause round belly, diseases such as FIP can as well. Best to have her checked out by vet as you've planned, and then you'll have a definitive answer. Good luck!

Thank you, cat_mom. Worms could be a possibility, but there is no evidence in her stools and a major worm infestation is unlikely, her gums are nice and pink and she is very active and rambunctious. FIP probably (hopefully) not, she does not have any of the symptoms of wet. Her expanding so quickly over a few days, with no other symptoms, just points to pregnancy. If she is, I wish we did not have to spay her, but she is number 5 and we just can't afford to keep a litter of kittens as well. And placing kittens in good, permanent homes is extremely difficult.

Oh you're welcome Petra. Our girls were never super active while pregnant and being active is not indicitive of a sick kitten either. I suspect she's just a happy kitty who's really enjoying the good life :c)

Good thing she's going for a Vet check though just to make sure.

Petra please update us on your kitty.

She is definitely pregnant and will be spayed tomorrow. I feel sad about it, but she is very young and small and more likely to experience complications, plus she is #5 and we cannot afford any more. We discussed letting her have the kittens and re-homing them when they are weaned, but there are way more kitties than good homes and everyone we know and trust already has a full house. So, this is really the only option.

So the vet thought it would be ok in spite of pregnancy? I know there s a point where the pregnancy can complicate the surgery - but have no idea where that point would be.

Yeah I know its sad but then so is all the millions of cats - nice furry purry cats - put to death every year thru no fault of their own. Hugs to you Petra - its the right thing to do.

When we inherited a feral cat colony, we first had all the females spayed. After we had found homes for 13 kittens and cats. All but one of the females were pregnant (one was still nursing) and one was in heat. Must have been at an early stage for all because we had no idea and only found out when we picked them up from the vet. Anyhow, this is why I have six cats. We moved and did not feel we could leave them - they got used to us but are terrified of strangers. You definitely did the right thing.

Thank you for not leaving them when you moved, cooper.

Current Resident, they said they can do the spay, no problem. There was no mention of possible complications, just that they charge a bit more because spaying a pregnant cat takes longer. This vet works with lots of ferals and strays from a TNR group, so they probably spay pregnant females all the time. But now you have me worried, I hope everything goes well and she doesn't have complications.

Cooper, just think how many there would be now if you had not had them spayed. It's awful that there are so many more cats and dogs than good homes.

Oh Im sorry Petra - didnt mean to worry you just satisfy my own curiosity. I would have complete trust in them and their extensive experience - as you say they would have dealt with this numerous times and they would have told you if they foresaw any difficulties.

That's okay, I am glad you mentioned it. It didn't even occur to me there might be risk potential beyond the normal risks of anesthesia/a medical procedure and it's best to know. Anyway, I called to check up on her mid-morning, and thankfully she did great and is in recovery. Am going to pick her up in a couple hours. Hub wants me to ask how many she was carrying, but I don't really want to know. :(

Wow! I came back to see if you had an update and I am soooo surprised!!! Glad she did well with the spay. That must have been a really hard decision but you're heart is definitely in the right place.

Just picked her up a little while ago, she looks so very skinny, we have to fatten her up big time. I guess most of the nutrition went to the fetuses though she was constantly eating. She was about halfway along and would have had 5 kittens! I didn't ask but was told. And was also told that the little ones are euthanized and don't suffer. They said she is very, very young to have been pregnant. Lots of pregnant kitties there today for spays, with between 4 and 7 in each litter.

Wow. I thought that was young...sad about the babies, but of course it was the right thing to do. Glad she's ok.

Now she'll be able to still enjoy her own kittenhood! Glad everything is turning out well for her. Hope you have many happy years with your new family member!

^^ Thank you. Yes, she is back to being a kitten and playing and pestering the older ones and also very affectionate. Plus, she is a chatterbox, most talkative kitty we've ever had, answers and comments on everything. :)