Expert: Ali - 8/26/2009

Question
I have now a total of 4 cats, an older laid back cat, a younger cat that I had mated, and I had 3 of the mothers kitten but due to parvo I had to put 1 down, so now I have the 2 siblings 1 boy neutered and 1 girl non spayed, I am in the process of vaccinating the 3 others as my older one is vaccinated, the kittens are now 5 months old and recently their mother has been really nasty towards them, hissing biting and scratching anytime they are near her, I am wondering could this be caused by that parvo virus the other kitten got sick from, all my other cat have not shown any physical symptom of the virus at this time but I am trying to figure out why the mother has been nasty as of late she also has not been vaccinated yet can you help

Answer
Carrie,

I suspect that the behavior you're seeing from the queen is related to the fact that she'd instinctively be urging the kittens, particularly the male one to go out and find a territory of their own. Naturally some queens have been known to allow infrequent nursing up to 5 or more months of age, however it's not very common in most situations. For the most part cats living in colonies would be just about finished teaching their kittens to hunt at 5 months of age so my suspicion is that mom is communicating that it's time for her kittens to stop bugging her so much and have lives of their own - this doesn't necessarily mean the babies will have to be re-homed though. It's also possible that mom has become pregnant again, especially if she's allowed outside or escaped from your house and hasn't been spayed. If your queen is pregnant again it's quite possible she's trying to ensure that the kittens don't hurt her new babies and that everyone is completely weaned so the unborn kittens won't have to fight off larger, older kittens for the nutrition needed to survive, grow and thrive. If mom's snippy behavior started when the kittens came home from the veterinary hospital mom may be reacting to the change in their scent because they've been handled by strangers and they smell different. Rubbing the kittens down with a dirty t-shirt or towel will help to cover the strange scent and may help mom to relax and stop being touchy with her kittens.

If mom is reacting to strange smells her babies brought home from the vet clinic with them then you might be able to solve the problem by giving mom a Bach flower remedy called Rescue Remedy which is a blend of flower essences designed to calm, reassure and comfort cats. You can often find Bach flower remedies in health food stores, some mainstream pharmacies sell these remedies in their vitamin/nutritional supplement section and as far as I know you can purchase this remedy and other Bach flower remedies online. I'd recommend adding 7-10 drops of Rescue Remedy to a fresh bowl of clean water for all of the cats each morning. If mom is pregnant this will not hurt her, these remedies are gentle and effective. It's important to realize that homeopathic remedies often don't provide instant results, instead they focus on gently guiding a person or pet's body back towards a state of balance. I've been using Bach flower remedies for over 10 years now and the thing that I like best about these remedies is the fact that they're perfectly safe for cats of all ages and states of health. The beautiful thing about administering homeopathic remedies is the fact that unlike conventional medicines these alternative therapies won't cause negative or harmful side effects, in fact if the wrong remedy is administered the absolute worst thing that will happen is absolutely nothing. It's exceptionally important to watch these interactions between mom and her babies closely to ensure that things don't get out of hand and nobody is bullied or injured during these "discussions" with each other. I'd also recommend checking each kitty over daily to make sure that there aren't any serious scratches or bite wounds that require medical attention. Be sure to look under the fur directly at each kitty's skin since a cat's coat can hide injuries caused by fighting.

You did mention that your queen is not vaccinated, I'm assuming this includes a rabies vaccine. If mom and her babies are allowed outside unsupervised there's a slim chance she may have been bitten by a wild animal carrying rabies which could have devastating implications. Rabies is a slow moving virus that spreads throughout the nerves and towards the brain. On average the incubation period from the time the cat is exposed to the point where the central nervous system is involved is between 20-60 days in cats. For some general information about rabies I'd recommend checking out the following website: http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/rabies.html Common symptoms of rabies include:

- A rabid animal may show marked changes in temperament, this means you can see increased aggression and in some cases the animal may become highly sensitive to touch and other stimulation. There is a furious type of rabies, however there is also a dumb form of rabies which makes the animal lethargic, weak in one or more limbs and unable to raise its head or make sounds because the throat and neck muscles are paralyzed. In both forms of rabies the animal normally dies a few days after symptoms appear, this is usually the result of respiratory failure.

- Fever is a symptom that's fairly non-specific, in and of itself it's not an indicator of rabies, but rather a viral infection of some sort. Normal body temperature for a cat is between 100.5-102.5 degrees Farenheit. If you don't have experience taking a cat's temperature please feel free to contact me again and I'll be happy to guide you safely through the process (alternatively you can contact a veterinarian and either have the doctor take the cat's temperature for you or a technician may be willing to provide you with step by step instructions). If your cat has a fever NEVER give any over the counter human medications such as Tylenol or Advil as they are extremely toxic to cats. One regular strength Tylenol is more than enough to kill a single cat.

- An infected animal may develop erratic behavior, this means that a quiet, shy cat may become active and somewhat agitated or an outgoing, confident cat may suddenly become shy and quiet.

- Your kitty may have dilated pupils that aren't responsive to changes in the amount of light in a room, a healthy cat's pupils will constrict when there's plenty of light present, in dark conditions a normal cat's pupils will dilate to make use of the available light.

- Excessive drooling is sometimes associated with rabies, however this is not the only reason a cat may drool. Cats with severe dental disease or pain in their mouths will sometimes drool, this means that you shouldn't necessarily panic if your queen is drooling, but I would advise that she been seen ASAP by a qualified veterinarian to be examined since dental disease is very painful and should be treated promptly to be sure that the cat remains as healthy and comfortable as possible. It's not unusual for a cat who is in excruciating pain to hide his/her discomfort very well. Cats are typically quite stoic when it comes to how they deal with pain, it's likely something that's left over from before cats domesticated themselves as animals living in the wild who are sick or in pain and show weakness or clear signs of distress become prey for other animals. Cats as a whole require special care and consideration when treating pain, it's actually easiest to prevent pain in cats as treating painful conditions safely and adequately with the medications that may be used safely to treat cats can be difficult. If you have any reason to suspect that your cat may be in pain for any reason it's very important to NEVER give any over the counter human medications without a vet's recommendation as many of the drugs commonly found in our medicine cabinents are very toxic to cats and can cause life threatening damage to the cat's system which may be fatal.

- A rabid cat may attack or snap at imaginary objects. I have known my share of crazy cats who do this so again this is a symptom that by itself may have little or no meaning and is not diagnostic of rabies. Cats with vision problems that cause them to have spots in their field of vision will sometimes attempt to play with these spots as they cross the cat's field of vision. If you see that your kitty is batting at, attacking or snapping at imaginary objects it's a good idea to bring this to the attention of a veterinarian immediately so that the cat can be examined closely and the vet can determine whether rabies is a likely cause of this behavior.

- Cats may exhibit changes in their appetite or develop an appetite for inedible objects such as stones, sticks and other objects small enough to fit into their mouths. Pica is the medical term for this behavior and there are some specific cat breeds that will lick, suck on or attempt to eat non food items - this is not diagnostic proof that your cat has been infected by the rabies virus. Cats who suddenly develop an interest in eating or licking non food items should really be seen by a veterinarian for a thorough check up. Oriental cat breeds are particularly well known for their tendency to suck on wool blankets, sweaters, etc or other similar materials, in some cases these cats intentionally ingest these fibers which can result in serious medical problems requiring emergency treatment. Kittens weaned too early will sometimes develop a habit of "nursing" on their own fur, human fingers, ear lobes, lips, the fur or nipples of other kittens in their litter or other pets within the household, stuffed toys, blankets and any other suitable item they can wrap their mouths around. This behavior is a self soothing behavior somewhat similar to a child sucking their thumb and it seems to offer some degree of comfort. If you're interested in learning more about the reasons why kittens develop self soothing nursing behaviors, the needs of a pregnant/nursing queen and the best ways to minimize the chances of kittens developing self soothing behaviors I'd be more than happy to provide you with information on this topic in another answer. In my experience once kittens develop the habit of nursing in abnormal circumstances to comfort themselves it's often extremely difficult to stop this behavior altogether. Pica can sometimes be the result of a poor quality diet lacking in important nutrients. Some cats will lick plastic bags or glue from envelope flaps and other sources, this is sometimes the direct result of animal by-products that find their way into these common household items. I've cared for and known a number of cats who will eat dust bunnies, fur from their grooming tools and even stray hairs that end up on furniture or floors in the average household. Some cats will vomit to expel the foreign material, however there are also cats who can become seriously constipated or develop blockages in their digestive tract as a result of eating these items. Some cats will eat objects that aren't meant to be eaten if they're constipated, have a diet that's not properly balanced and lacking in nutrients. If you'd like more information about supplementing or changing the diet your cats are on I'd be more than happy to send along information about high quality nutrition for cats and specific websites that will help explain the unique nutritional needs of our feline friends.

- In later stages of rabies a cat may begin biting itself. As with many other symptoms I've mentioned in this answer this is not diagnostic of rabies in and of itself. Cats with food, enviromental, chemical and seasonal allergies may bite themselves or lick itchy areas excessively in an attempt to alleviate the itching that's causing their discomfort. If any of your cats begin chewing on body parts or biting themselves I'd recommend having them evaluated by a veterinarian ASAP to diagnose the problem and provide appropriate treatment.

- A rabid cat may wander aimlessly and be somewhat disoriented. There are other medical conditions that can cause this behavior besides the rabies virus so this is another symptom that is a good indicator that your cat should see a veterinarian for assessment and treatment.

- The tone of a rabid cat's voice may change. If your cat's voice has recently changed or does so in the future it's best to have him/her assessed by a vet to diagnose the reason for the change and start any necessary conventional or alternative therapies your vet deems necessary. A change in a cat's tone of voice isn't positive proof that your cat has rabies.

- A cat infected with the rabies virus may suddenly exhibit aggressive, violent behavior towards animals and people including those beings the cat is familiar with.

- During the dumb phase of rabies cats may become extremely depressed. Depression in cats is a fairly non-specific symptom that's associated with many different potentially serious medical conditions that are treatable if diagnosed in time. Cats with renal failure, bacterial infections, different viruses or potentially fatal autoimmune conditions may become depressed (this is by no means an exhaustive list of conditions that may cause your cat to show signs of depression).

- The paralysis caused by rabies during the dumb stage may result in your cat's mouth with her tongue protruding. Cats with other serious medical conditions may have their mouths wide open with their tongue hanging as a result of any number of other medical conditions besides rabies. Impaired heart function and respiratory distress can cause cats to pant heavily in an attempt to increase the level of oxygen in their system. If your cat is spending time with her mouth wide open and her tongue protruding from her mouth then I'd recommend she be assessed on an emergency basis by the closest veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment.

- Cats infected with rabies can sometimes develop progressive paralysis that's severe enough to cause severe weakness in the cat's legs, often to the point where the cat can no longer walk or groom him/herself. As the paralysis makes its way through the cat's body s/he will eventually succumb to respiratory failure when his/her diaphragm and other muscles in the chest become paralysed. Paralysis in cats can happen as a result of traumatic injury to the spinal cord and degenerative changes in the back such as herniated discs pressing on nerves that lead to the cat's legs from the spinal cord as well as other disease processes that may be treatable if the cat is diagnosed quickly enough, my recommendation is to have a cat exhibiting this symptom evaluated ASAP by a qualified veterinarian.

- The rabies virus can cause jerky or violent movements in an infected cat because the viral infection attacks the central nervous system which is responsible for basic life sustaining functions throughout the body as well as fine and gross motor control. Again I must stress that rabies is NOT the only condition that causes damage to a cat's central nervous system. The loss of co-ordination or control of movement in a cat should be considered an emergency and that cat should be evaluated by the veterinarian on an emergency basis.

- A rabid cat may roar loudly, while male lions routinely roar as a means of communicating territorial boundaries it's quite unusual in domestic cats as far as I know.

- Conjunctivitis may be evident in cats infected with rabies, however most times when a cat has an eye infection it's not related to the rabies virus. Pink eye should be diagnosed by a veterinarian if at all possible because there are other conditions which may cause nasty discharge from the cat's eyes. There are a few different causes of eye infections in cats from exposure to viruses like the feline version of the herpes virus (which can also cause upper respiratory symptoms) and bacteria. Conjunctivitis is EXTREMELY contagious, it can be passed from cat to cat or cat to other pet mammals including dogs, hamsters, rats, guinea pigs or mice if they come into direct contact with discharge from the cat's infected eye or they receive attention from a human caregiver before that person has washed his/her hands  thoroughly in hot, soapy water. It's also possible for a cat to pass an eye infection along to his/her human caregiver, the best way to avoid this possibility is to wash your hands thoroughly with plenty antibacterial soap and hot water. Cleanliness is extremely important when your kitty has an eye infection because it's also possible to spread the infection into the cat's other eye, this means that you need to be extra careful when cleaning away any discharge from the infected eye and watch your cat's other eye closely for any signs of infection. Do NOT rub your eyes or scratch your face while cleaning the discharge from the cat's eyes or handling dirty gauze used to wipe the cat's eyes. Anytime you handle a cat with a case of conjunctivitis, clean the discharge from the eyes or administer antibiotic drops or ointment to treat the infection it's very important that you take the time to wash your hands very thoroughly - washing them between the time you clean the discharge from the cat's eyes and when you administer the medication to minimize the chances of accidentally contaminating the end of the dropper or tube containing the medication (it's important to avoid touching the applicator to the cat's eye as well since this contaminates the otherwise sterile contents of the container. When treating a cat with an eye infection it's very important to isolate him/her from other pets in the household by providing kitty with his/her own quarantine room to stay in until the infection has been fully treated and it's completely gone. If you're interested I can send you information about treating conjunctivitis at home.

I strongly recommend preventing rabies by vaccinating appropriately for your cat's specific needs. Indoor cats living in city highrises aren't as likely to come into contact with a rabid animal and be bitten while outdoor only or indoor/outdoor cats are at risk of contracting the rabies virus any time they're wandering outside unsupervised. Since you're currently owned by four cats and you're in the process of vaccinating these guys it's important to know that recent research has produced findings about how frequently cats (and other pets) should be vaccinated. According to the research annual vaccinations may be contributing to the increased incidence of certain health problems including renal failure, certain types of cancer, allergies, as well as certain auto-immune conditions. These findings have created significant controversy within the veterinary profession. Some veterinarians believe the research isn't accurate and administering several different vaccines annually (in some cases more often) is the only way to protect our cats effectively against the illnesses that we have vaccines for. Other veterinarians believe that our cats should not receive any vaccines beyond their kitten shots and a booster when their check up is due the following year. The way that my family veterinarian is a holistic practitioner, her approach to things is somewhat different from the way that many vets practicing conventional medicine alone. Every medication including vaccines carries a risk of side effects, allergic reactions and unforeseen adverse reactions, our vet tends to be pretty good about looking at the bigger picture. If you have outdoor only or indoor/outdoor cats that are allowed to wander freely without supervision then they've got an increased risk of coming into contact with sick cats suffering from illnesses that vaccines are available to prevent and there are a number of good reasons the cat's veterinarian would administer vaccines to avoid serious, preventable illnesses that cat would be at risk of contracting. For a cat who only goes outside on a harness with a leash and a human supervising closely that cat would have less risk of exposure to illnesses covered by vaccines that are currently available, but s/he's still at risk to some degree. An indoor only kitty who doesn't come into contact with cats outside of his/her family or stray cats is much less likely to contract distemper and other conditions that can be vaccinated against. In the vast majority of places the law dictates that all household pets be vaccinated against rabies, some jurisdictions insist that this vaccine be given annually, many veterinarians prefer to use the three year rabies vaccine since it reduces the cat's exposure to vaccines and minimizes his/her risk of vaccine related complications. Our vet is a fairly down to earth, sensible holistic vet, for pet parents whose cats are at risk of contracting any health issue cats are routinely vaccinated against she doesn't hesitate to vaccinate as appropriate and use a homeopathic remedy to treat any negative effects resulting from the vaccination. For pet parents who feel concerned about potential risks associated with choosing not to vaccinate their feline companions beyond what the law requires our vet recommends cycling the vaccines, simply put multiple vaccines administered each year aren't the norm any longer. Minimizing a cat's exposure to vaccines is an important step to helping reduce their chances of developing serious health problems which may be associated with over-exposure to vaccinations. It's also possible to have the vet test your cat's immunity to specific conditions that are normally vaccinated against, this test is referred to as testing the pet's blood titers which is a fancy way to say that they're checking their patient's levels of immunity, based on the results of the test you can tailor your cat's vaccine schedule to suit his/her needs and avoid administering any unnecessary vaccines which may pose a risk to your cat's long term health.

* If you are bitten by any animal it's extremely important to take immediate action to protect yourself by cleaning the site thoroughly with hot, soapy water and seek immediate medical attention. If there's any reason to believe that the animal who has bitten you has rabies then the medical team may begin treating you for this viral infection. Ideally treatment should be started as soon as possible after possible exposure to the virus. Injections of the rabies vaccine are administered on the first, fourth, eighth, fifteenth and twenty-eighth days of treatment. If you have not previously been vaccinated against rabies you will also receive an injection of rabies immune globulin on the first day of treatment. Rabies Immune Globulin (RIG) is a product made from the blood of people who have been immunized against rabies and it contains antibodies to the rabies virus and provides patients with protection before the rabies vaccine causes their immune system to counter the virus.

I hope that this information is helpful. If you have any further questions, concerns or you'd like me to clarify anything in this answer I'd be happy to help you out to the best of my ability or recommend a person or resource that can help address the more technical concerns or questions you might have.