You are here:

Cats/sore nipples

Advertisement

Expert: - 3/8/2010


Question
hi there, my cat gave birth three days ago and the kittens have been suckling but when i check her nipples the end of the teat looks very red, i wiped it with a bit of tissue and it isent bleeding but the end of the teat looks quite sore after feeding, is there anything i can give her to soothe it as it does look quite painfull, also not all of her teats are swollen like they should be, only the bottom four seem to be good ones, is this because the kittens havent suckled on them? also the mother seems to have what feels like another kitten inside her but it doesnt move, the last 2 litters she had the same thing happend but it wasent quite as big, i was wondering if this could be her stomach because she is eating quite abit or is it her womb swollen due to the pressure of the kittens? she was due to be spayed on the 1st of febuary but because she showed no signs of coming into heat got pregnant in january. thanks. paigen

Answer
Paigen,

I am not a vet, but I would not worry about the teats.  As long as the kittens are getting milk and there is no real discoloration, all is OK. If the teats begin to darken and turn black, then you may have a nasty mastitis, but it would seem that is not what is going on here.  The kittens choose their teats and each tends to stick to one teat. The other teats that are not being used tend to begin to shrink back to normal.

After birth, it takes a few days for the uterus to shrink down to normal.  Also, during this time the queen is a bit constipated, and, until she has a good poop, it often seems that she is still with kitten.

I would keep an eye on things and if you suspect a problem, you can always check with your vet.

Congratulations on you new litter.  I wouyld get her spayed as soon as the kittens are weaned and she has reabsorbed her milk.

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.