CAT WHO IS NURSING

Question
I HAVE A CAT WHO HAS BEEN NURSING A KITTEN AND THE KITTEN DIED AT 5 WEEKS OLD DUE TO AN ACCIDENT YESTERDAY AND SHE ONLY HAD ONE KITTEN. HOW DO I DRY UP THE MOTHER SO SHE IS NOT IN SO MUCH PAIN. SHE ONLY NURSED OFF OF ONE NIPPLE AND SHE IS SO ENGORGED RIGHT NOW WHAT DO I DO?

Answer
Well, if you express the milk to relieve the buildup, you will only stimulate her to produce more. On the other hand, you do sort of need to get rid of it so here's what I suggest.  Get one of those wraps or pads that you can put in the microwave to make a warm compress. Wrap it in a moist towel. Take the cat in the bathroom, put a towel on your lap (wear an old T shirt too), hold the compress on her nipples for a minute or two, moving it around as necessary, and then try to "express" milk by squeezing and pullling on a nipple. You actually want to squeeze gently at the base of it rather than the tip. Let the milk drip onto the towel, that's what the towel is for. Get as much out of her as you can and then use the compress again for several minutes.

Repeat the warm compress every 6-8 hours but don't "milk" her every time. Every other time would be better. Hopefully the second time you do it you will notice less milk, and so on.

Hope this helps. . .

iris