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Q.: We have been giving our female cat oral contraceptives without problems. During our vacation she was looked after by some relatives, who unfortunately forgot to give her the pill for three weeks, so now she is in heat and had been in heat for about a week, when we got her home again.
Since she has been outside a lot during these three weeks, we are in doubt as to whether she may be pregnant, and therefore we don't like to go on with the pills.
Therefore we have chosen to keep her inside for the rest of the heat. At the same time we're not happy about having to have kittens this fall, because we think she is too young. We had planned for her to have a litter in the spring of 2003 and after that to be neutered.
Therefore, my question is: When can we or a vet determine if she is pregnant? If she is not pregnant, when can we start with the pills again?
A.: You will be able to determine it app. three weeks after the mating; her nipples will then be larger and more red than usual, if she is pregnant. A vet will not be able to determine it much sooner.
You may start with the pills as soon as you know she is not pregnant, provided she is not in heat at the moment.
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