Expert: Jessica - 6/15/2011

Question
About 10 days ago, my son trapped what appeared to be a feral cat with the intention of having it spayed/neutered and released.  However, the cat became fairly friendly after being trapped, and he was able to pet it.  The cat appears to be a female, was rather thin, and its nipples seemed to be slightly swelled and very pink.  A lot of opinions and indecision, but now we are afraid that she may have been a nursing mother.  Would the nipples have been very red and swollen, or just a little swollen and pink, as her's were?  Her nipples now look more normal in appearance.  Would she have been upset at being separated from her kittens? (She didn't seem to be upset; she settled in very nicely.)  Are there any other indications that she may have had a litter?  We are feeling very guilty since some people think that she had kittens.  Is there any way to know for sure? Thank you.

Answer
Hi Judy,

I think you have done a good thing. If she was actively nursing a litter that was dependent on her for their sole nourishment, she would have become painfully engorged within a day or so. She also probably would have been noticeably restless and upset by being separated from her kittens. Most mothers are distraught when separated from their babies, even when the kittens are about ready to go to new homes, let alone if they are too young. If this kitty's mammary area didn't become hardened and engorged and stay that way for at least a week, it's safe to say she was not nursing a litter heavily enough for them to have been depending on her for nourishment. Even if she did have kittens, they were on solid food and might have been nursing intermittently for bonding only.

Nipples that are slightly swollen and pink can be normal when a cat is or has recently been in heat, or if she has recently weaned a litter. Some cats who've had a couple of litters will always have prominent nipples. I think you are fine to be guilt-free on this one, and actually very proud of yourselves for taking a step to help reduce the feral/stray population. Good work!

Best wishes,
Jessica