Mastitis in a young tortie cat

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Hi everyone, I have a 1-year-old cat who has had 4 kittens, and she seems to be suffering from mastitis. Today, Sunday 7th June, her condition seems to be getting worse; her mammary glands look more swollen and there are bite marks (including one teat that is quite badly gashed). Aside from the pain when touched, she isn't showing any other symptoms.
The kittens are nearly 4 weeks old and seem to be in good health. There isn't an out-of-hours vet available so I have to wait until tomorrow. Is it a good idea to stop the mother from nursing the little ones? I can supplement with a bottle and some kitten milk (though they aren't very keen on it).

Mastitis in a young tortie cat

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3 answers
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    • A
    Andet Icon representing the flag French
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    According to the vet, her teats are indeed particularly swollen, but there aren't any symptoms of mastitis or any other condition. It’s apparently just down to the weaning period. He’s given me some anti-inflammatories and that’s it. Thanks to everyone who replied.
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    C
    Chatzen Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi,

    I'm not a vet, but with her mammary glands being that swollen and a teat looking injured, I’d definitely stick to your appointment tomorrow as planned and keep a very close eye on her tonight.

    If your cat is still her usual self—eating and drinking normally without any fever or listlessness—waiting until tomorrow seems reasonable. However, if she becomes lethargic, refuses to eat, develops a fever, or if a mammary gland becomes very red, hot to the touch, or starts leaking, I’d try to contact an emergency vet.

    As for the kittens, I’d try to stop them from nursing on the most damaged teat if you can. At nearly 4 weeks old, they’re usually starting to be able to gradually take some wet kitten food to supplement their mother's milk.

    Good luck, and please do let us know how the vet visit goes.

    Chatzen 🐾

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    ProvetoJuniorConseil
    Provetojuniorconseil Icon representing the flag French
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    Hello, As a vet student, I can't give a formal diagnosis for what you're describing. I think you should see a vet tomorrow. You can assess how urgent the situation is based on your cat's overall condition, her temperature, and the colour of her teats. There are several possibilities, including mastitis, bite wounds from the kittens, or the start of feline mammary fibroadenomatosis... If you notice that the mammary gland is very painful, a teat is deeply torn, or if you see any pus, blood, or abnormal discharge, I recommend you stop the kittens from nursing until your vet appointment. Kind regards, Quitterie
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