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Cats/Retained kitten and spay

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Expert: - 5/15/2011


Question
Rescued a pregnant cat.  She had kittens 2 days a go.  A very small amount of bright red blood today. Will be taking to vet to check for a retained kitten on Monday as asked by the rescue group. They said she will be spayed then if there is a stillborn kitten that has to be removed. My question is, does she have to be spayed then or is it more of a cost issue for the rescue group? I think we would rahter pay out of our own pockets for the spaying at a later time so she doesn't lose her milk.

Answer
Theresa,

If there is a stillborn kitten to be removed surgically it's better for your rescued queen to be spayed at that time for a few reasons:

1) She may sustain irreparable damage to her womb during the surgery as the tissue is very delicate

2) She may have developed the start of a serious infection called pyometra which is life threatening - the cure for this infection is an immediate spay.

3) Every time you put anyone (with 2 legs or 4) under general anesthesia you run the risk of life threatening complications, rather than expose her to anesthesia twice it's much more humane to do it just the once if at all possible.

4) During complicated deliveries that necessitate caesarian deliveries many pet parents and breeders opt to spay the mom immediately to prevent further labor/delivery or pregnancy related complications. Spaying mom produces the same hormone drop that giving birth does so mom's milk supply shouldn't be affected negatively. One of my own cats had a spay caesarian and she nursed her surviving kitten for nearly a year without any difficulty. It is however a good idea to ensure that the rescue group's veterinarian will be providing pain relief for mom for the first week or so because if she experiences discomfort she may opt out of taking care of her babies so be sure to request that on mom's behalf.

If you have any further cat related questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me again - I'm more than happy to help in any way that I can.

Kind regards,

Ali

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Ali

Expertise

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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