Expert: Ali - 10/1/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hi, I don't think anything is wrong but just recently I had a trap and rescue organization help me trap some feral cats that I've been feeding. They were all sterilized and got their shots and returned to me. There was a mama cat that had two kittens, well they're not small anymore, probably 4 months old, they were fixed too. I do know she was in early stages of being pregnant again so that ended that pregnancy. She's been home maybe a week now and she's doing real good other than she cries all the time. Since she is feral, she is an outdoor cat and her kittens are indoors with me. When I heard her crying, I thought okay, she was missing her kittens, so I let them out to be with her, which she could care less and they didn't seem to care for her either. So that ended that theory of her missing them. Plus the fact, they seem to have no interest in being outdoors like I thought they would, which is okay with me if they'd rather stay indoors. But even before I caught her to be fixed, she had lost interest in them and would even hiss and slap at them when they came near. Do you think she's in mourning because of her being fixed and she knew she was pregnant? I've just never heard a female go around crying like this, maybe a male, but not a female.

Thanks in advance.

ANSWER: Vicki,

There could be a few things going on. The issue may be behavioral - it may just be that she is mourning the loss of her pregnancy, although you did say that she was in early pregnancy so I'm not entirely sure that's the issue. My main concern would be that she is in pain or is having complications resulting from her spay. If mom wasn't particularly vocal prior to being spayed it might be a good idea to try and trap her again so that she can have a follow up visit with the vet. The last possibility is that a tiny piece of ovarian tissue was left behind - depending on the amount of ovary left behind this can cause similar behavior to a cat in heat, although this generally isn't all that common. I doubt that the 4 month old kittens are the cause of this meowing - it sounds as though she had weaned them prior to being spayed, it's quite common for cats to swat and hiss at their kittens to make sure that they get the message about being weaned.

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

QUESTION: Hello Ali,

Thank you. This paticular female could be vocal at times BEFORE so maybe that's all it is, she just likes crying. I tell you what she reminds me of, and it's when a male cat that is tomcatting is looking for a female, that's what she sounds like. She's eating and acting okay and does not appear to be in pain. The only problem with trapping her again and getting her to a vet is, our local vet will NOT treat feral cats. The Trap and Rescue clinic is too far for me to take her myself and they are done in my area until spring. Hey, maybe she is in cat menopause now. ha ha I remember when I had a total hysterectomy, it sure threw me into full-blown menopause.  I might have wanted to cry too. Again, thanks.

Vicki Short

Answer
Vicki,

Since this little girl could be vocal at times prior to her spay I would just suggest that you keep an eye out for any other symptoms that are concerning. The fact that this kitty is eating and drinking makes an infection more unlikely. I'm glad that I could set your mind at ease, hopefully all goes well with this little one.