question about my mother cat

Question
I have a mother cat that is over a year old. She had 3 kittens 2 1/2 weeks ago. She is down to only having 1. She can't nurse. I felt her belly and around her nipples they feel like golf balls. I dont know what to do. Can you please help me.

Answer
Tonia,

It sounds like your cat has Mastitis.

Mastitis is an infection of the mammary glands which happens when the mother's milk production is heavy and milk is retained. It is a very painful condition that can progress into a serious problem. The mother cat probably will refuse to allow the kitten to nurse.

She needs to be seen by a vet ASAP to get antibiotics and probably drained. Until you can get her examined warm wet compresses will help.

Here is some further information on Mastitis:

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF MASTITIS:

Swellings in one or more mammary glands

Enlarged teats

Redness

Purulent or discolored milk or discharge from glands

Painful mammary glands

Glands may abscess

Lethargy

Loss of appetite

Crying kittens

Sick or dying newborns

Fever in some pets

TREATMENT:

Systemic antibiotic therapy

Topical warm water compresses

Affected glands should be emptied

Glands may need to be surgically lanced or drained.

Severely or chronically affected glands may need to be removed (mastectomy)

If systemically ill or septic, intravenous fluids would be necessary


The kitten will need to be hand-fed until the mother cat has recovered.Here are some good links on how to feed and care for a newborn:

http://www.safehavenforcats.com/newborn.htm

http://www.feralcat.com/raising.html

http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/kittens3.html

Please get her spayed. That will prevent the pain, expense, and heartache that you and she are having to go through.

Carol