Queen nursing adult cat NOT kitten

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?

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.

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!

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).

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?

Originally Posted by Terea

Now mom is in heat again! Is this normal for a cat to go into heat so soon after having a kitten?

Click to expand...

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...

Yeah, all queens I know have been in heat atleast once before the their kittens were 12 weeks old.

Is this adult cat, Thumbelina, your cat? If so, you could keep the two seperated until the other cat's milk dries up totally.