Expert: Marcia Owen - 9/1/2008

Question
Hello my cat gave birth only hours ago and this being my first pregnancy (cat or other wise)and I'm not a hundred percent on how things should be. I had a list of questions to ask the vet but the appointment was for today and well Lemon had other ideas on how to spend her day. Basically I'm not sure if she is lactating or not. I was advised by the veterinary nurse I rang earlier today to squeeze her teats to to get some milk going so the kittens could find the nipples easier but nothing was coming out. They are attached now suckling and aren't squeaking but I'm just worried they are not getting any milk.

Answer
Hi Charlie

Firstly congratulations on the new arrivals.  Your vet nurse was quite right about squeezing her teats but I find you have more success of seeing milk if you pull slightly at the same time, a bit like how a cow would be milked.  But as the kittens are sucking and not giving up (which they would if there was no milk) then I think you'll find there is milk.  Some queens don't get swollen milk glands but provide enough milk on demand.  The best way to be sure that the kittens are getting enough is to weigh them first of all twice a day, reducing to once a day when you are happy.  Its also a way of knowing if a kitten is not doing as well and might need a top up bottle feed.  A kitten should put on approximately 10g per day, some may put less on one day then more on another day, so as long a a good average over 24 hours is there, don't worry.  Some can be little piggies and put a lot more on.  

Marcia