How to treat a mother cat with swollen nipples?

If your mother cat’s udder is swollen , you may be suffering from mastitis, which occurs in many mammals. Mastitis is an inflammation of the milk glands. Inflammation results in redness, swelling and pain. Mastitis can occur in a single udder or in several udders. It is an inflammation caused by bacteria.

Even if there are no wounds or bruises on the nipples, the disease can occur if the environment in which the mammal lives is unsanitary and dirty. Inflammation can also occur if the milk stays in the udder for a long time when mammals lose their offspring during lactation or cannot breastfeed. Although mastitis is generally seen during pregnancy and lactation, it can also occur in cases of false pregnancy.

What are the Causes of Mastitis?

A mother cat’s immune system is usually strong and able to fight bacteria. Sometimes, if the cat does not receive adequate and regular nutrition or is under stress, the immune system becomes inadequate and infection of the milk ducts can occur. This is especially common in lactating and pregnant cats. Animal lovers who keep cats at home refer to this condition as swollen mammary glands. If we take a look at the causes of breast swelling in mother cats;

• Wounds; Wounds around the breasts can cause the breasts to become inflamed and cause mastitis. If cats are hit in the chest area while fighting with each other and wounds are formed or if they are hit by a car and injured in the chest, the natural protective system of the breasts collapses and mastitis occurs.

• Bacteria; Bacteria are the primary cause of mastitis in mammals. Cats living in an unsanitary environment are at high risk of developing mastitis, especially in lactating cats.

• Kittens; Cats that have given birth and are breastfeeding may be more prone to mammary discomfort. Kittens’ mouths and paws may not be very clean and this can lead to infection of the mother cat’s udders.

• Milk accumulation in the teats; Milk accumulation can occur in mother cats in cases such as early separation from their kittens, death of kittens, or kittens not using all of the teats while sucking.

This causes infection.

What are the Symptoms of Mastitis in Cats?

Although there is sometimes no sign of infection in mastitis in cats, the disease can be observed with some symptoms.

• The most prominent symptom of mastitis is swelling and redness of the cat’s udders. When the swollen and reddened udder is touched, it feels warmer than the cat’s body. There is also discharge from the nipple and the cat does not want to be touched because it hurts.

• Mastitis can be diagnosed even before the cat’s udders swell. If kittens suck regularly but do not develop sufficiently, it means that the milk ducts in the udder are inflamed. Because not enough milk can pass through the inflamed ducts, the kittens cannot get enough nutrition and their development lags behind.

• In the more advanced stage of the disease, the cat’s udder turns purple and sores appear on the udder. There is a discharge of pus and blood from the nipple. In such cases, the cat’s body temperature rises, there is no desire to eat and they become lethargic. If the infection in the udder gets into the bloodstream, the cat often vomits.

If the mother cat’s breast is swollen, it is necessary to take her to the vet to have it checked and start the necessary treatment. It is very important to get help from a veterinarian so that the mother cat does not suffer and her health condition improves and the kittens get breast milk as soon as possible.

How to Treat Mastitis in Cats?

The treatment process for swollen mammary glands in cats may vary depending on the severity and stage of the disease. If the disease is not too advanced, many cats can be treated with painkillers and antibiotics. Treatment can continue at home without separating the mother cat from her kittens.

It is recommended to empty the inflamed udder by hand milking at home. This will relax the cat and increase blood circulation, speeding up the healing process. Milking and compresses are applied at the time intervals recommended by the veterinarian. The compress application reduces the burning and pain in the cat’s udder and provides relief to the animal.

If the veterinarian’s tests show that the infection in the cat’s body is high, the cat may need to stay in the veterinary clinic for a while. In the clinic, the mother cat is treated with serum and needle therapy to restore her health as soon as possible. In some more advanced cases, the veterinarian may recommend surgery. In order to avoid the need for surgery, the cat should be taken to the veterinarian as soon as mastitis symptoms appear.

How to treat a mother cat with swollen nipples? We have come to the end of our article. If you have anything you want to add for this article or if you want to ask about your cat, you can specify in the comments section. Also, do not forget to review our most frequently asked article Why Do Cats Have Long Whiskers?