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Expert: - 9/29/2009


Question
I have a cat who gave birth litter in july 25. Two kittens adopted out at app 7 weeks. The other two still here. About two days ago one breast has become enlarged and swollen. It's tender she sleeps alot and is not eating. Is this just cause not nursed off that one? Will it go away or could it be infected?

Answer
Jalana,

7 weeks of age is way too young to be adopted into families and taken away from mom and littermates. My recommendation is always to keep kittens with mom for 12 weeks or if you happen to be in a real time crunch 10 weeks. Those early weeks are very important in terms of development, socialization and learning basic life skills and manners and a kitten's best teacher is his or her own mother. Most kittens aren't fully weaned at 7 weeks of age if mom's allowed to raise her kittens normally. I suspect based on that history that your momma cat might have mastitis that's affecting one teat and I think she should be evaluated by a veterinarian ASAP so that she can receive a diagnosis and appropriate treatment. I would guess that taking the two other kittens away so soon might have had a negative impact on the mom because she was accustomed to producing milk for four then without warning she was down to two kittens which probably caused the mastitis. I'd suggest having mom seen within 2-3 days and in the meantime you can help to alleviate some of her discomfort by applying warm compresses to her infected mammary gland, a facecloth moistened with hot tap water and wrung out as much as possible would work nicely or you could use a gel heat pack wrapped in a towel. Ideally I'd suggest applying these compresses between 3-4 times a day for 15 minutes at a time, that should help the teat begin draining the infected material. I wouldn't be too concerned about the remaining two kittens feeding on that teat since mom probably won't allow it because she's in pain so there's no need to separate babies from mom. 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 be happy to help you out to the best of my ability.

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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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