Kittens chewing into mother's belly?!

Hello!

I have discovered something very worrisome!

An outside cat of mine had her first litter of kittens a couple of weeks ago. A day or two ago I noticed something odd about her belly and looked, and it looks like something is CHEWING through the flesh of her stomach, right where her milkers are!!

Is it possible the kittens are actually gnawing through her? She doesn't appear to be in any pain, she's walking around and eating as usual, approaches me meowing. But seeing the sight is definitely alarming and completely not natural. There's no blood or anything but it's definitely open flesh that shouldn't be open.

Does anyone have any advice or seen this before?

I would guess on some maggots or other parasitic larvae.   Nay, kittens dont do so. 

It may also be other causes,  even more serious.

A vet visit ASAP is highly recommendable, unless you do have some very knowleable neigbour, who is very experienced with treating sick animals (this works only in the maggots case).

Good luck!

I hope it's not maggots. I haven't seen any on her belly, it's a clear area that's torn open. No blood, but definitely fleshy. Like, consider cutting a whale open on the blubber and seeing that. 

I'm also worried about her kittens feeding from her during this time because it's right where her milkers are and I'm worried they will make it worse.

I see. Definitely a vet case. ASAP. I hope you can take her to a vet, and afford it?

If I can find one that will let me do payments I could, but I don't have enough funds for a full bill up front. It's very sad to say but it is true. I've been contacting folks around town to try and find someone who can at least take the kittens in to give their mother a break.

Do you know all the vet places around, and know which is cheapest, but still OK?  Often it may differ quite a lot.   Most vets arent happy at payment plans, unless you are their usual customer. It may be easier to lend money elsewhere, among friends or such.

Finding an oK but cheap vet may be the first task.

As alternative to  finding foster homes for them (which IS a good idea! Also,  If she collapses, you will be in a hurry to solve the situation with them), you can perhaps given them bottle yourself.

And have a sock on her, so they cant nurse on her.  She can perhaps still do some washing and mother care, and you doing the bottle part.

If you can get a good kmr-milk, or goat milk (best raw goat milk), etc...

If you need to wash off that wound, use common water boiled with some kitchen salt in.  Like they do in hospitals.

The dosage is 1 tea spoon (3grammes) salt in 1 litre of water.

This is NOT instead of a vet visit, but while you do arrange it.

Good luck!

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/155462/cant-afford-a-vet-please-read

These links may perhaps be useful?

Good luck!

Hope mother is doing okay- I've had two moms I rescued just in time who had "holes" that were fleshy in their nursing areas and both had extremely extremely severe mastitis and their mammary glands had exploded. I would get her into the vet asap. I'm not sure where you are located but you can use Care Credit- they approve within minutes. As others said it could also be maggots, but either way if it is an open wound infection can get in so easily and if it IS mastitis she and her babies in grave danger.