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Expert: - 10/16/2009


Question
Hello.

We took in a cat that had been left behind by her previous owners when they moved. Two weeks latter she had 3 kittens. We were thinking of finding them all homes, but now that we have grown attached to them, we've decided to keep them all. They have all been spayed and neutered. I was told Mom's milk would most likely dry up once she got spayed. Its been a month now though and it seems she still has some. The kittens still feed or try to feed off her and neglect actually food. They are 4 months old now and im not sure weather I should let them feed from her or try to keep them apart. If I do keep them apart, how long do I need to do it for? What is best? Let them feed from her, or keep them apart?

Thank You

Answer
Angel,

Normally by this age the kittens would have been eating on their own and expressing interest in solid foods. My recommendation would be to start off by introducing these guys to a high quality canned cat food like Wellness - the easiest way to do this is to dip your finger into the food and dab a bit onto each kitten's nose, they will instinctively lick it off. Once the kittens have figured out that food is tasty then all you'll need to do is continue offering your finger to lick cat food off of as you progressively move it closer to the plate - this will encourage the kittens to eat directly from the plate. It's not a bad thing to allow the kittens to nurse and spend time with mom, the issue at this point is ensuring that they're getting enough nutrition to support their growth and development. As for spaying mom, most vets will not spay a queen who still has an abundant milk supply, getting these kids weaned is a priority (do be careful not to allow mom outside though, she could get pregnant again) then you can set your attention towards getting mom spayed. The solid food will help to reduce the amount of time the kittens are nursing which will then reduce the amount of milk she's producing - she'll have to have the kittens mostly weaned for at least two weeks as that's roughly how long it will take for her milk supply to dry up enough to perform the surgery. If you have any further questions, concerns or you'd like me to clarify anything in this answer please feel free to contact me again and I'll do my best to help you out.

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Ali

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I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.

Experience

I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.

Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.

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