Expert: Dear Tabbi - 3/30/2009

Question
QUESTION: dear tabbi i have a 1 year old famale cat that just had babies like 2 mos ago and and i was trying to wean her babies off of her so i could go get her fixed but i was just realizing that she hasnt wanted to eat for like two days already and i dont know what to do im kind of worried. i dont want to take her to the vet to get fixed when she's not eating. what can i do to get her to eat?

ANSWER: Monique,

It's normal for a cat to go off her food once in while, just make sure she is drinking. Dehydration can be serious.

Try tempting her with something strong smelling, like tuna, tinned sardines in oil, etc., or mix some chicken (Kentucky Fried Chicken works good# in with her cat food. If she wants the chicken then she will have to eat her cat food to get it. You can gradually cut back on the chicken as she gets starts eating the cat food. Sometimes putting a little of whatever you give her on her lips, or rubbed on her front leg, will get the taste buds working again when she licks it off.

Weaning won't work as long as mom and babies are together and mom lets them. The kittens will continue to nurse until mom puts a stop to it. Even if the kittens are eating solid food, it is a comfort thing, not a nutrition thing. I had one 'kitten' that was bigger than mom that she still let nurse! FINALLY she put a stop to it. It was embarrassing! The last mother I fostered I took her and the kittens #they were 10 1/2 weeks# to be fixed, and even though mom was spayed and the kittens neutered, the kittens would still nurse on mom periodically. It is harmless and a comfort to both. Weaning too early can cause emotional problems later on, but I've never heard of any emotional problems caused by nursing too long.

A cat can get pregnant again from 48 hours to 2 weeks after giving birth! I would take her in ASAP to get her spayed. When you do, tell the vet about her not eating. Unless she is sick or has an uterine infection, her appetite should return.

I hope this helps.

Tabbi

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: hey tabbi i forgot to mention that she is in heat at the moment so i guess im just gonna take her to get spayed i just wasnt sure if something might happen cuz shes not eating during the spaying process but now im just gonna take your advice and take her to get spayed before she ends up getting pregnant again

Answer
Monique,

It's good that you are going to get her spayed soon. If she is in heat then her mind probably isn't on food (smile). A cat is not supposed to eat the night before they get spayed (and the day/night you bring her home) anyway because the anesthetic makes them sick.

That's good that you are a caring and responsible pet owner!

Tabbi