Mom in pain when nursing

stacyvan1

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You seem very knowledgeable about Mother cats and nursing kittens, so I have a question! My kittens are about 4 weeks old and mamma cat cries in pain when nursing them. Is this normal? Is she starting to wean them already? This is the first time I have ever dealt with cats and kittens so I am very inexperienced with this process.
 
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stacyvan1

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Also, she hisses and swats at them as well and her belly, around her nipples is red with sucker bites and the area is very warm, almost hot!
 

maewkaew

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Hi Stacyvan,    Welcome to TCS! .  

It would be best to start your own thread.   You might get more response if everyone understands it is a new question.   and also you don't want people answering to get  the info about your cat  mixed up with the info about lorindaleigh's cat.     

If you can get a product called "Bag Balm" , it might help her a bit.     But   from your description of the appearance and the area feeling hot,    I really would try to get   a vet to check her out,  since it is possible she could have mastitis ( infection of one or more mammary glands )  and that  would be not only risky for her but dangerous to the kittens if they nurse off an infected nipple.   

It is normal that it can start to be somewhat painful for the mom,  and  kittens getting their teeth does inspire mom to start weaning them around this age  (but  that doesn't normally mean stopping nursing cold turkey -- weaning is normally a long process over the course of  a month or more , in which they gradually nurse less and eat more,  as mom is less willing to nurse. ) 

You should go ahead and start to offer some pate-style canned food to them  --  kitten food or an "all life stages" food such as Wellness or Merrick "Before Grain"( BG);  they may not be ready to eat yet but it doesn't hurt to try.   You can put a little on your finger and gently put it in / on their mouth. and you could try putting a little on their paw in hopes they will lick it off,  or try to get them to take it from your finger. 

 But if it turns out the mom cat is unable or unwilling to nurse at all  or hardly at all , and the kittens arent ready to totally switch over to eating enough to supply their nutritional needs,  then you would also need to bottle feed for a while.  
 

StefanZ

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Seconding all Maewkaws suggestions.  It sounds like a beginning mastitis to me, so do consult your vet asap.

Of home remedies to use parallelly: This Bag Balm sounds familiar, so use it. Or some other nice preparate for hurting human moms breasts...  Human moms do have sometimes the same problem.

If you dont have anything else, olive oil of good quality is useful.

But, consult your vet, and begin to learn the kittens eat normal kitten food, preferably wet/canned. Minced meat is a classical favorite. 

And or kmr/goat milk in bottle if necessary.

If they eat normal food, their poo with change, so you must get them their own litter too. Use a non clumping litter for them, very important. Have this in something shallow, so they have easy to climb in.

Good luck!
 
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