not nursing

Question
My cat just had a kitten last night and her nipples are hard.  Right around two of her nipples are big.  Is this normal?

Answer
Tammy,

I do apologies for the lateness of the answer, I was actually out for the day. It sounds to me like you are describing a cat with engorged mammary glands. Engorged mammary glands can happen for a variety of reasons, for instance it can indicate mastitis (a painful infection of the mammary glands). She needs to see a vet as soon as possible. It is important that you bring her kittens with her to the vet clinic so that mom is able to continue bonding with her little family. You may have to formula feed her little ones until this is all sorted out. It is possible that mom isn't nursing due to a kitten that wasn't born with the rest. The uterus contracts in response to the kittens nursing and if her uterus is contracting in response to the kittens nursing and she has a kitten that for whatever reason can't be born naturally she may not be allowing the kittens to nurse due to the pain. You can purchase kitten formula at most pet stores and vet clinics. Just so that you are aware, kittens who are being formula fed will generally eat every hour and a half to two hours. It is also important for you to know that you can't feed kittens in the same position that human babies eat. Unfortunately kittens who are fed on their backs are at risk for choking on the formula and in some cases aspirating it and drowning on the liquid. It is also advisable to ask the vet whether it is necessary to continue feeding the kittens formula or if there is a way to facilitate mom letting her milk down and being able to feed her babies naturally. I should also let you know that kittens should be weaned between 6-8 weeks by their mother. It is in the best interests of the kittens  if they are allowed to stay with their mother and siblings until they are between 10-12 weeks of age as this is an important time for the social development of the kittens. In the first 10-12 weeks of age kittens learn important skills that help them to become well adjusted and healthy. It is best for the mother cat and the kittens to teach each other skills like bite inhibition (especially important if you have been ambushed and chewed on by a young kitten). If your vet recommends that the kittens be hand fed for any length of time it is a good idea to invest in a scale that measures in grams up to two pounds so that you can chart the development of the kittens in the event that the vet needs that information. I also strongly suggest that you have mom spayed when she has weaned her kittens and her milk has dried up (about 2 weeks after weaning). Pet overpopulation is a serious problem particularly with cats. Spaying and neutering saves thousands of lives every year. Unfortunately shelter systems end up having the euthanise pets simply because there is just not enough room for them and their time runs out. Behaviorally cats who are spayed or neutered tend to be less likely to fight, caterwaul and howl to advertise their availability to mate, wander far from home or mark their territory with urine. Medically cats who are altered tend to be at a substantially reduced risk for infections and tumors of the mammary glands and reproductive organs. Until mom is spayed, please don't allow her access to male cats as she can still become pregnant while nursing her babies. I do hope that you find this information helpful. If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me again.