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Queen nursing adult cat NOT kitten

post #1 of 8
1/31/10 at 9:51pm
Thread Starter 
I have two adult cats - Princess and Thumbelina. Thumbelina has nursed on Princess even before she ever had a litter. Princess began to lactate as a result. In any event, Princess became pregnant and gave birth to a single kitten around 4 weeks ago. At first she was an attentive mother, but now that her kitten is up and running around a bit she no longer nurses her kitten, but continues to nurse Thumbelina. She doesn't reject her kitten outright, but typically won't lay down within Olivia's (the kitten's) reach. For a few days there, Olivia cried a lot and lost a lot of weight as she was a bit late in starting solid foods, but thankfully she is now eating some gruel. The adult cats's behavior disturbs me, though. Has anyone else seen this?
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post #2 of 8
1/31/10 at 10:46pm
I would keep them apart, so Princess can care propery for her kitten. It's very concerning that such a young kitten lost a lot of weight. 4 weeks is not late in starting solids, most kittens are just beginning then and some take up to 6 weeks to eat.

Hope you are getting everyone spayed soon.
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post #3 of 8
2/1/10 at 7:52am
I agree completely with MissyMotus.

Cats nursing on each other is usually no big deal.

But this situation here is one of the exceptions.


Good luck!
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post #4 of 8
2/1/10 at 7:54am
I've never experienced that but I do agree with keeping them apart so that she could be more attentive to her own kitten. I'm a bit worried that Rosalie will start lactating if Zoey doesn't stop nursing off of her (Rosalie's 6 mths and Zoey's 4 mths, 3 wks).
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post #5 of 8
2/1/10 at 1:41pm
Thread Starter 
I am doing my best to keep the two adults apart, but I have a small house and two children who aren't vigilant about shutting doors. When I said the kitten lost weight, I didn't actually weigh her, but she appeared noticeably thinner to me. I did try to supplement her with formula.

Now mom is in heat again! Is this normal for a cat to go into heat so soon after having a kitten?
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post #6 of 8
2/1/10 at 2:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Terea View Post

Now mom is in heat again! Is this normal for a cat to go into heat so soon after having a kitten?
yes, it happens often.

A quite often problem is they when in this heat, they sneak out to seek a suitable tomcat. Or several if there are. And while on adventures, got run over or something... And home are small kittens without mother...
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post #7 of 8
2/1/10 at 3:52pm
Yeah, all queens I know have been in heat atleast once before the their kittens were 12 weeks old.
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post #8 of 8
2/2/10 at 3:59pm
Is this adult cat, Thumbelina, your cat? If so, you could keep the two seperated until the other cat's milk dries up totally.
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