Expert: Jessica - 8/13/2009

Question
I have two health-related questions.  First, within a day or so of giving birth, the mother cat passed a foul-smelling, dark, liquid discharge.  Could this be a sign that she is suffering from endrometitis?  Should I take her to the vet?  Second, the mother's belly feels tough and kind of leathery.  She has been nursing for about five weeks now, so I am not sure if this is natural or a possible sign of illness.  I rescued this cat from the street, so I have no information on her health history.  Any help would be greatly appreciated!  Thank you, Vanessa

Answer
Hi Vanessa.  Any sort of vaginal discharge that was foul-smelling could definitely have been a signal of an infection.  There are all sorts, ranging from a placental infection to a uterine infection known as pyometra, which is life-threatening.  Certainly, it’s a good sign that she didn’t become ill right around the time you noticed the discharge, but she could have a lingering infection.  I would get her to the vet ASAP so they can palpate her abdomen.  If a uterine infection is present, the mom will usually feel tense when the vet applies pressure to the uterus, and sometimes, the uterus will be enlarged.  And clearly, if she has a fever during the exam, an antibiotic will be warranted.

As for her belly, I’m not sure which part of her feels leathery, but sometimes the teats will become chapped and toughened as the kittens nurse.  The mammary area can also become taught and engorged with milk.  But if it’s occurring all over her belly, leathery skin can indicate that there is a medical issue present, such as mange, allergies or even dehydration.  So in this instance, too, it would be a good idea to have mom checked out by a vet.

I hope all is well!

Jessica