Expert: Dear Tabbi - 9/24/2008

Question
Hi Tabbi, my 9 month old female  was recently spayed (5 weeks ago) and when I took her into the vet for something else he said she was producing some milk and that she must have been in heat when we had her spayed. If she was in heat she was not "acting out" as in the usual manner, though she was restless. Is this normal, or have you heard of this before? What should we do? The vet said to do nothing, but whet if the milk is causing her discomfort? Thanks so much.

Paula and Star

Answer
Paula,

Since I do not answer vet related questions because I'm not knowledgeable in all areas and do not want to give you the wrong information, I sent your question to a friend that has worked for a vet for 17 years and IS knowledgable. Here is here reply she sent me that I am forwarding to you:

"If the cat is producing milk she may have been pregnant when spayed but she should not be producing milk now. it is not a sign of heat. It could be a sign that a ovary or part of one was missed and there is a ovarian remnant causing hormone production in this cat. But there are other things that can cause it as well. False pregnancy happens in both cats and dogs so thats possible. The cat would be exhibiting nurturing, mothering behavior not heat behavior. False pregnancy is pretty rare in cats though.

This didn't sound right because it isn't. Heat and milk production have nothing to do with each other.

If there is a ovarian remnant the cat will probably go into heat..if she does start exhibiting heat type behavior then the Vet that spayed her needs to go back and see what he missed. If she doesn't , it is more apt to be a false pregnancy. Some animals have very strong maternal drives  - they adopt orphaned animals of their own and other species, some have false pregnancies . If its a false pregnancy and not a medical problem this cat will need a companion if left alone a lot. These are not the type cats that make a good single cat.

"Galactorrhea is the excessive or inappropriate production and release of milk. This milk production is not associated with pregnancy or impending delivery of kittens. It is a rare condition in the cat and may be seen with the sudden withdrawal of progesterone medications. The condition generally resolves spontaneously within several days."

If it doesn't - the cause needs to be sought..since the cat was not on medication there was a different reason for milk production.

She needs to pay attention to Star's behavior and if it looks like she is nesting she really needs to make sure she doesn't get out. She didn't say if she was inside..inside/outside or how she lived. But if always inside that would eliminate pregnancy if she has had her since kittenhood. We just do not have enough information to know so can only toss out possibilities..

What was the something else? it may be very important to the total picture of whats going on with this cat. Why does she think the milk may be causing discomfort..Is the cat licking at her abdomen and acting like it bothers her? does she have mammary swelling.

http://www.petplace.com/dogs/pseudocyesis-false-pregnancy/page1.aspx

It can occur after spay and the timing is about right but again its rare in cats. Its also not a ignore thing..no milk production issue in a spayed cat would be.

If Star is still producing milk, I would certainly get a second opinion."

I hope this is helpful. I WOULD get a second opinion from a different vet for peace of mind.

Tabbi