Okay so, here's the deal. My husband and I found a mama cat with six kittens at his job site. The kittens, around 10 weeks old, have all now found good homes. It seems to us, though, that mama cat is still producing milk. Her glads seem almost swollen with the stuff. Does she need her kittens back? Does she need to go to the vet right now? We plan on getting her fixed in about a week, will that help with the swollen glands? I've never had a litter of kittens at my home before, so I don't know what the norm is. Please, any advice would be helpful.
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Mom's still got milk.
- Thread starter kristal
- Start Date
She should stop producing milk as the need goes away...however...there is a possiblity (and dangerous) of mastitis in the mammary glands. This could be a problem and could have serious health risks involved.
Mastitis
Mastitis (inflammation of the mammary glands), as an acute suppurative form, sometimes occurs during early lactation. It is usually confined to one gland and may follow a simple congestion or overstocking. The affected gland will be tense, hot, painful and enlarged. If it is only congested, the application of heat and subsequent gentle massage will bring normal milk out of the teat orifice, and the situation may be speedily relieved by milking the gland concerned. If an abscess is present, the cat will become anorexic, dull and feverish, and in addition to pain and swelling in the gland, a pointing, or purplish area of fluid pressure from the accumulation of pus will be seen. Antibiotics are essential. While, ideally, they should be chosen according to culture and sensitivity, first line treatment usually consists of a broad-spectrum antibiotic, eg, amoxycillin-clavulanic acid, or a cephalosporin.
http://www.fabcats.org/felineparturition.html
At 10 weeks she could still be producing a lot of milk too especially if the kittens were still nursing.
Mastitis
Mastitis (inflammation of the mammary glands), as an acute suppurative form, sometimes occurs during early lactation. It is usually confined to one gland and may follow a simple congestion or overstocking. The affected gland will be tense, hot, painful and enlarged. If it is only congested, the application of heat and subsequent gentle massage will bring normal milk out of the teat orifice, and the situation may be speedily relieved by milking the gland concerned. If an abscess is present, the cat will become anorexic, dull and feverish, and in addition to pain and swelling in the gland, a pointing, or purplish area of fluid pressure from the accumulation of pus will be seen. Antibiotics are essential. While, ideally, they should be chosen according to culture and sensitivity, first line treatment usually consists of a broad-spectrum antibiotic, eg, amoxycillin-clavulanic acid, or a cephalosporin.
http://www.fabcats.org/felineparturition.html
At 10 weeks she could still be producing a lot of milk too especially if the kittens were still nursing.
