Swollen mammaries after kittens are gone question?

Let me start by saying that the kittens were 9 1/2 weeks when they left Hina. They were only getting to nurse when Hina was distracted for a moment but she always escaped them. She would lay up high where they couldn't get her but would let them nurse for a minute or two rarely at this point. I have a thread in the s.o.s. part of the forum going over everything about the kittens leaving.

They were removed yesterday afternoon and today her mammary glands are swollen and hard. Not hot, not red or oozing. She is acting like normal, eating, drinking and using the litter box same as always. I was just startled to notice the difference in her breasts and since I've never had a mother cat before I don't know what is normal. She is going to the vet Friday for vaccinations and to set up her spay.

I've looked online and some say mastitis some say it's just the last of her milk beings there are no kittens to release it and that it will go away on its own in due time.

My mom took in a pregnant stray 4 years ago and swears that it happened with her to and she was fine but that was 4 years ago. I am a chronic worry kind of person and even if I think things are fine in the front of my head the back of my mind is saying it's a monster of a problem when usually I'm just over reacting lol. I know that human women get swollen when they stop breast feeding so I see the logic with a queen swelling until the milk goes down but I'd feel better if I got advice from someone who has seen this. I understand you guys can't replace vet advice, don't worry I will let my vet know on Friday as well it just seems so far away and I'm going to lose more sleep than I'm already losing over the kittens.

Thanks for any advice or info given it is much appreciated!

I think most let it dry out, no fancy treatment.

You can have some virgin olive oil on.  Or some mild preparate human women would use.

Good luck!

StefanZ said:

 
I think most let it dry out, no fancy treatment.

You can have some virgin olive oil on.  Or some mild preparate human women would use.

Good luck!

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 Should I just keep an eye on it until Friday? The back ones are more swollen than the front but the kittens also nursed on them way more. She is still acting normal and they are no bigger than yesterday, they are still pink and not hot. She doesn't seem to uncomfortable. Is it possible that the teats that were nursed on most would be larger than the less nursed ones beings they see more milk production? Sorry, I'm asking so many questions I just want to be sure. Also I don't see in discharge or anything like that.

Yes, as I understand it is like you think!

You are doing fine.   

*vibes!*

Exactly, this is the dry up period, and will take a couple weeks to be gone, or more.

The lower ones are always more milk producing, which end up being the kids' favorites.

She will be just fine, if you ever do notice hot, redder nipples she may have an infected one, but not all that often it happens.

What you describe is just what it is supposed to be like.

Thank you guys so much! There is still no change, it just scared me because they are so big and not all uniform looking.

Update on Hina and her swelling.

We got her in to our vet today instead of tomorrow because she swelled so big over night. Dr. Larson said it is totally okay looking and may take a little longer to go down but her teats are not infected looking at all. She told us just to keep an eye on them and to call her if we see crust, pus or discoloration and the like. She wants us to let the glands go down about half way then get her fixed hopefully before she goes into heat.

I'm just relieved that she is okay. Also she gain a little weight which is good since she was super thin when we took her in and since she has had the kittens has gone back to looking to skinny. She is eating better now that the little ones are gone. Hopefully all continues to go well.