Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/cat after kittens leave

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 9/16/2008


Question
How long will my cat cry after  her kittens have gone,and her nipples are very swollen  is this normal?

Answer
Sharu,

If you can afford it, I would take her to the vet. He can give her a shot to dry up the milk. Swollen nipples are very painful.
 
If she is not being nursed on, her milk should dry up within 6 days.  If her nipples are still enlarged after 6 days she may have a condition called Mastitis which is congestion of the mammary glands. She then needs to be seen by a vet ASAP because it is a dangerous condition if left untreated because basiclly the milk 'rots' and poisons her system which can be fatal.

Also, this would be a good time to get her spayed.

Tabbi  

Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)

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Dear Tabbi

Expertise

My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.

Experience

Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).

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