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Question
I've been catching and taming cats to give them away for most of my life now. When I went off to college, it was the first time I went without getting a new kittin on a regular basis for years! However, last night was the first time that I caught a cat. The problem is, this cat shows signs of nursing. I need to know what I should do. While there is a overpopulation of cats here, I would feel really guilty if any kittens came to harm from my interferance. How long does it take for a mother cats nipples to go back to their regular size after nursing? This cat has rather large nipples and crust around them but I was unable to stimulate lactation. While I understand that the future generations must be kept to a controlable level, I just feel so badly about these kittens. Please help!
Arielle,
If she is finished nursing, it usually takes a couple of weeks for the milk to "pack up" and get reabsorbed. Unless she is willing to lead you to the kittens, there is almost no way you will find them.
After about a week, the mammaries become hard and thickened. After the second week all of that gets reabsorbed.
Best regards... Norm.
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Answers by Expert:
Norman Auspitz
Expertise
I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.
Experience
I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.
Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.
Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook
Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.
Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.
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