A cat owner who feared their newly rescued pet was seriously ill has shared how their worries turned out to be something entirely different—and much happier—on Reddit.
The post, which has racked up almost 6,000 upvotes, was shared by user Ok‑Nectarine7469, who explained that they initially believed their cat Smokey was suffering from feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a viral infection that affects between 5 and 10 percent of domestic cats, according to VCA Animal Hospitals.
Smokey, a former stray, had been rescued by the user and her husband around two months earlier after being found living near a dumpster at their apartment complex.
In the post, the owner described noticing changes in Smokey’s body and behavior that quickly raised alarm.
“The past couple of weeks her tummy swelled up but not a whole lot,” they wrote. “At first we just thought she was gaining weight. Then I thought she was getting very sick.”
The couple attempted to take Smokey to the vet, but their car broke down before they could make the appointment. Around the same time, Smokey’s behavior began to change.
“She became cuddly,” the owner wrote, adding that her playtime also slowed. “Her play time was getting lazy. I really thought this sweet girl had wet [feline infectious peritonitis].”
The truth, however, was something else entirely.
“She was pregnant,” the owner revealed.
Surprise Kittens Arrive
The March 22 Reddit post included a slideshow of images showing Smokey, a gray cat, alongside her two black newborn kittens.
In the comments, the owner explained that Smokey’s bloated stomach had become noticeable only in the past two weeks.
“My husband just thought she was eating too much,” they said. “But I noticed it was hard and didn’t go down or fluctuate.”
The signs now seemed obvious. “Looking back now I see it was all clearly signs of pregnancy, but I guess we just convinced ourselves she wasn’t because we thought she’d have had them way sooner or be way bigger,” the owner added.
According to VCA Animal Hospitals, feline pregnancy, or gestation, typically ranges from 60 to 67 days, averaging between 63 and 65 days. The owner said they believe Smokey fell pregnant on the very day she officially became a permanent resident in their home.
Reddit Reacts
The unexpected twist delighted users, many of whom shared congratulations and similar experiences.
“Separating the family is not an option. I’m sure your husband will come around once the babies start cuddling up to him,” one commenter wrote.
Another user shared their own story. “Congratulations to the pretty little new mama! A cat I adopted as a stray also had ‘surprise kittens,’” they wrote. “It was the same thing, she got extremely affectionate, her belly swelled, but she was so skinny at first that I just thought she was gaining weight and getting more lovey dovey. Brought her in to get spayed and she had her kittens three days later. Still have one of her litter 16 years later.”
A third commenter said: “Oh you’re so lucky! And so is Smokey. Congratulations on the precious babes!!”
What began as a frightening health scare ultimately turned into an unexpected new chapter—for both Smokey and the family who took her in.
Newsweek reached out to u/Ok-Nectarine7469 for comment. We could not verify the details of the case.
Read the full article here
