Mama is in pain while nursing

fryguymoore

fryguymoore

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Apr 2, 2015
Messages
17
Purraise
1
My mama cat had one kitten and an emergency C-section 3.5 weeks ago.  I few days ago we gave the mama an orphan kitten who is four weeks old.  All was well and both kittens continued to gain weight.  Today Wanda (the mom cat) is in a lot of pain while nursing, to the point of forcing the kitten off the nipple.  I can't get into the vet until tomorrow at noon and the vet isn't answering the phone right now :(  It seems like Wanda has mastitis, around her nipples is warm/hot, her nipples are red, and I can feel pockets of milk more so than normal, and she cries when the babies nurse and then doesn't let them eat.

She is going to the vet tomorrow, but what can I do for her in the meantime.  The older kitten can eat wet food, so we are giving that to her three times a day as well as KMR on a plate.  The younger kitten cries to drink the KMR and hasn't figured it out very well either from the bottle or the dish.  I don't want to cause Wanda even more pain by not letting the babies nurse.  Currently we are staying in he room with them and intervening each time a kitten tries to nurse.  Does anyone have any suggestions for Mamas pain until we can get to the vet?
 
StefanZ

StefanZ

Advisor
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Sep 18, 2005
Messages
26,068
Purraise
10,764
Location
Sweden
fryguymoore said:
 
My mama cat had one kitten and an emergency C-section 3.5 weeks ago.  I few days ago we gave the mama an orphan kitten who is four weeks old.  All was well and both kittens continued to gain weight.  Today Wanda (the mom cat) is in a lot of pain while nursing, to the point of forcing the kitten off the nipple.  I can't get into the vet until tomorrow at noon and the vet isn't answering the phone right now :(  It seems like Wanda has mastitis, around her nipples is warm/hot, her nipples are red, and I can feel pockets of milk more so than normal, and she cries when the babies nurse and then doesn't let them eat.

She is going to the vet tomorrow, but what can I do for her in the meantime.  The older kitten can eat wet food, so we are giving that to her three times a day as well as KMR on a plate.  The younger kitten cries to drink the KMR and hasn't figured it out very well either from the bottle or the dish.  I don't want to cause Wanda even more pain by not letting the babies nurse.  Currently we are staying in he room with them and intervening each time a kitten tries to nurse.  Does anyone have any suggestions for Mamas pain until we can get to the vet?
Click to expand...
Sorry, I dont have real good suggestion re mommas teats.  As you say, its normally a vet errand.

But the kitten whom cant as yet eat himself, this kitten you must try to get in some.  Perhaps it can lick up from your fingers?

If not, it will prob be easier with an needleless syringe - as he had momma till now, he will prob be reluctant to bottle...

If you dont have a syringe, surely some neigbour has.    A 3ml-5ml syringe, these on 1ml are OK but lotsa work.

Tummy down, head up, in the corner of the mouth, be cautious - although  its not so touchy now as when it is weak new born kittens.
 
Sarthur2

Sarthur2

Cat lady extraordinaire
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Mar 8, 2015
Messages
36,053
Purraise
17,810
Location
Sunny Florida
Warm compresses to reduce swelling. Please feed the kitten until mama can nurse again. She's probably uncomfortable from being full of milk and from the mastitis. The vet will put her on medicine tomorrow. The warm compresses should give some relief in the meantime. Poor Wanda, and poor baby doesn't understand why she can't nurse.
 
Sarthur2

Sarthur2

Cat lady extraordinaire
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Mar 8, 2015
Messages
36,053
Purraise
17,810
Location
Sunny Florida
Do you have access to an emergency vet? The infection causing mastitis can be passed on to the kittens. Mastitis can turn septic. It can be very dangerous. You may not want to wait until noon tomorrow. When I looked it up it said it is a medical emergency. Not to mention exceedingly painful. Mama probably needs pain meds in addition to antibiotics. Hope she doesn't have an infection from the c-section. Please post an update when you can.
 
StefanZ

StefanZ

Advisor
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Sep 18, 2005
Messages
26,068
Purraise
10,764
Location
Sweden
sarthur2 said:
Do you have access to an emergency vet? The infection causing mastitis can be passed on to the kittens. Mastitis can turn septic. It can be very dangerous. You may not want to wait until noon tomorrow. When I looked it up it said it is a medical emergency. Not to mention exceedingly painful. Mama probably needs pain meds in addition to antibiotics. Hope she doesn't have an infection from the c-section. Please post an update when you can.
Click to expand...
Agree with these suggestions.

You wait ONLY if there is no other vet.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top