Feline lost her litter, now what?

Question
She was close to having her babies when she left our house about three weeks ago. She came back all shook up. We are happy to get her back. Her brests look to have had kittens on them; swollen and the nipples protruding past her fur. Is it because there is too much milk and no kittens? She was very dirty. Do you have suggestions?

Herlinda  

Answer
Are you sure her kittens aren't still out there somewhere?  How long has she been home?  Does she cry to get out?  If not, then I hate to say it, but maybe her kittens are no longer alive.  I hope this is not the case, but if it is she will probably mourn for a while.  It sounds as if she did nurse them for awhile.  In a few weeks she will probably return to normal. Cats are very sensitive but nature will tell her to prepare to get pregnant again.  She will come back in heat at about the time the recent kittens would have been 5 to 8 weeks old. I would spay her as soon as her milk dries up if you cannot find her recent kittens.