You are here:

Cats/Rescued stray

Advertisement

Expert: - 3/23/2010


Question
Dear Dr. Auspitz:

We are fostering a stray tortoise-shell cat that was rescued from a parking lot.  When she was brought to me from the rescue organization she had been neutered and vaccinated.  But I notice that her breasts are enlarged, as though she had recently been pregnant.  If she gave birth shortly before her capture, how long will she be engorged?  Apparently no kittens were found with her, and I am told she is about a year old.  She eats and uses the litter, but she seems very lethargic.  Possibly because she is just terrified but a sixth sense tells me she is depressed.  She sometimes lies in the litter box and does not clean herself well.  I know she needs time to learn that she is safe with us, but is there anything else I should know, or anything to look for that would indicate a problem?

Answer
Maryann,

Are her breasts truly engorged or the nipples just enlarged?  How long ago was she spayed?

Anyway, if she still has milk and the kittens have been gone for, let's say, about a week, she should be "packing up" (i.e. the milk begins to dry out and the breasts become hard).  The milk will all get reabsorbed which should take no more than another couple of weeks.

There are many reasons for her being a bit lethargic and depressed.  This is not an unusual reaction to the surgery and relocation to a new household.  So, keep an eye on her and see if she does not begin to come out of her shell.  If after a few more weeks, the breasts are still engorged, then you need to take her to your vet.

Remember, you do not know her history and she may be very distrustful of humans (probably for good reason), so it may take a while for her to come around. I would ignore her (except to feed, water, and change litter pans).  Let her come to you on her terms in her own time.

Best regards... Norm.  

Cats

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

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.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.