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can a cat still produce milk after being spayed

by Damon Adams MD Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Yes. Mother cats continue to produce milk even after being spayed. The typical recovery time for spay surgery is between 12 and 24 hours. The mother cat should be returned to her nursing kittens as soon as possible, which your veterinarian can help you determine.

Full Answer

What hormones cause lactation?

Is a feline reproductive process different from a human?

Can cats have hypothyroidism?

Can a cat be spayed?

Can a male cat have a false pregnancy?

Do cats ovulate when they are not mated?

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Why is my spayed cat producing milk?

Cats that are not pregnant, and sometimes even spayed, can produce milk and this is called a false or pseudopregnancy. Hormones in a cat's body control this production of unnecessary milk.

Can a kitten nurse from a spayed cat?

A: Yes. A cat who is spayed while she is nursing will continue to produce adequate milk for her kittens. Some veterinarians prefer to wait until a cat has weaned her kittens before doing the surgery because the mammary gland (breast) development present during nursing can make the surgery slightly more difficult.

How long can a cat nurse after being spayed?

You may return nursing mothers 24 hours following surgery, once they completely regain consciousness, so they can get back to their kittens. Forty-eight hours is sufficient for a routine spay, and 72 hours is recommended if the cat was pregnant.

How long does it take for a female cat's milk to dry up?

These requirements dwindle as kittens begin weaning, especially during their seventh and eighth weeks of life. After that, mother cats begin eating less, start becoming aggressive toward kittens that continue to try to nurse on them, and stop producing milk. After about two weeks of this, most cat's breasts run dry.

Do spayed cats still have maternal instincts?

It's common for owners to get female cats spayed to remove the reproductive organs and prevent pregnancy. This procedure doesn't, however, remove all feline maternal instincts and these can still continue to be exhibited through their physical behaviour.

Do female cats remember their kittens?

If the group continues to live together, the female cat will always remember her offspring and will usually continue to treat them like a mother. She may continue to bring treats and groom her offspring. However, if the offspring are removed from the mother, she will usually forget their scent within a few weeks.

How do I get my cat to stop lactating?

Parsley water or tea may help dry up her milk supply. Lemon balm, peppermint and sage also may inhibit the flow of milk. A holistic vet will be able to guide you in the use of herbs and natural supplements to stop your cat's milk production.

Do indoor cats need to be spayed?

We recommend spaying or neutering your indoor cat around five to eight months, but all ages should receive this care. We are here to help you with a custom wellness plan through all stages of your cat's life.

How long does it take for female cats to heal from spay?

between 10 to 14 daysRecovery After Spaying Surgery Most pets will start to feel better in 24 - 48 hours, but full recovery takes between 10 to 14 days. During this period you should aim to keep your pet calm and refrain from allowing them to jump, as this could cause the incision to reopen.

How do I know if my cat has mastitis?

The affected mammary gland may appear dark purple or black in color, as the tissues begin to die off due to overwhelming infection and decreased blood supply. Affected cats may become lethargic, develop a fever, refuse to eat, or begin vomiting, as the infection enters the bloodstream, and they develop signs of sepsis.

How can I dry my cat quickly?

1:314:17How to dry a cat after shower - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipDon't rub the towel back and forth as you dry the cat or you could tangle the hair. Instead squeezeMoreDon't rub the towel back and forth as you dry the cat or you could tangle the hair. Instead squeeze the towel using a blotting motion. Keep towel drying until the fur is damp but not dripping wet.

Can I produce milk without being pregnant?

Can you lactate when you're not pregnant? Yes, it's possible to lactate if you're not pregnant. Inducing lactation is a complex process that usually involves using hormone-mimicking drugs for several months to produce milk. The second part of lactation is expressing the milk through your nipple.

Can a kitten drink milk from another cat?

The short answer: The only milk that is healthy for kittens to drink is either their mother's, or they will need a kitten milk replacer, which can also be called KMR or kitten milk formula.

Can a cat mate with a spayed cat?

Female cats that have been spayed can't go into heat. They don't have a uterus or ovaries anymore and are not able to reproduce.

Can a cat nurse kittens that aren't hers?

Even if they cannot nurse the babies – and they most likely will if they can – cats will often care for them, and even raise them alongside their own family. That cats will nurse and raise an animal that would normally be prey reinforces how amazing we all know these creatures really are.

Can any female cat nurse kittens?

What should I do? No need to worry. Cats that have not given birth can be induced to give milk if kittens are suckling from them, but she may not. It is more likely to be a comforting action and as long as all are content with the situation and her teats are not inflammed or infected, there is no problem.

My mother cat still has a lot of milk and no kittens. Not ... - JustAnswer

Customer: My mother cat still has a lot of milk and no kittens. Not sure what to do, I got rid of all the kittens, I thought they were ready, I guess she wasn't.

New Mother Cat not producing Milk | TheCatSite

Shelter just called to see if I can take in more bottle babies because a young cat gave birth last night & isn't making milk for babies. My instinct was to tell shelter I'd take the babies, but would like to take mom too, with hope that I can get her making milk. Shelter said after 4 kittens...

What Can I Give a Nursing Cat to Help Increase Her Milk Production?

There are no specific things to give nursing cats (referred to as queens) that will increase milk production. To determine how to increase the milk production of a nursing cat, it's necessary to identify any problems the nursing cat is having. The best option is to ensure the queen is healthy and receiving the proper nutrition.

How Long After Spaying does Mom Still Have Milk? | Cat Forum

Mom may have already dried out and they're "nursing" out of comfort rather than for food. I know my old kitten, Alice, comfort nursed off my dogs (one who never had a litter and one who had her last litter probably a year before that (before I got her) so neither were producing milk.

What hormones cause lactation?

An imbalance of the hormones progesterone and prolactin is another cause of lactation. Progesterone is the hormone that causes pregnancy symptoms and prolactin is the hormone that causes lactation, or milk production.

Is a feline reproductive process different from a human?

The feline reproductive process is slightly different than that of humans. It depends more on the act of mating itself. Like humans, though, hormonal imbalances can be one of multiple potential causes.

Can cats have hypothyroidism?

Cats with hypothyroidism may also experience false pregnancy and produce milk. In this case, it is caused by diverse blood changes. However, this is rare.

Can a cat be spayed?

Being Spayed. For some cats, being spayed can be the cause of false pregnancy and milk production. According to WebMD Pets, some have experienced this condition 3 to 4 days after the removal of the uterus and ovaries.

Can a male cat have a false pregnancy?

Mating with an Infertile Male. False pregnancy can also result from mating with an infertile tom, or male cat. As previously mentioned, the act of mating is what normally causes females to ovulate. If a female mates with an infertile male, an egg is released but never fertilized. The release of the egg causes the female's body to react ...

Do cats ovulate when they are not mated?

Unlike humans, cats normally do not ovulate until they are actually in the process of mating. According to the Cat Health Guide, approximately 30 to 35 percent of queens, or unspayed female cats, ovulate even when they have not mated. This will cause symptoms of pregnancy, including milk production.

When did my mom cat get spayed?

My Mom cat got spayed two weeks ago when her kittens were six weeks old and already eating solid food moisened with substitute pets milk. Right now, the kittens are on purely solid food. The kittens were put in a fairly large playpen to prevent the kittens from breast feeding and to eventually wean them. In the meanwhile, another nine month old ...

How long does it take for a kitten to dry up after being spayed?

Usually we remove the kittens from the mom before we spay the mom. It takes about a week for it to dry up. You limit the food she can have which helps dry it up. Normally vets want it to be dried up cuz its much harder to do a spay when a cat is engorged. I wouldnt let the kittens nurse from this mother any more.

Is it bad for kittens to nurse from a mom cat?

maewkaew. No it is not necessarily bad for kittens to nurse from a mom cat that was spayed. sometimes for example a cat is spayed at the time of having a c section and the kittens still can nurse after a day or so. I don't understand why the vet is saying the milk turns acidic. that should not usually happen.

Why do cats eat babies?

But the reasons behind everything : The reason to eat baby is if it’s ill, not going to make it/runt cannot make it to the nipple and is becoming malnourished as every minute goes on, mama cat, in her own way, puts. Continue Reading. There are quite a few reasons that mother cats will eat their newborns.

Why did the mother kill her own kittens?

If the mother has become pregnant again, her biology may be telling her that the existing kittens have become a drain on available resources, usually food, particularly if the mothers nutritional needs are not being met by the food provided by the feral feeder.

Why do cats move their kittens to our home?

In our case lot of cats move their kittens to our home because they know we take care of them. And whenever they move kittens they bring all the kittens. Some times some kittens wander away

How long do kittens need to be isolated?

If you must remove the kittens before that time, you’ll need to keep them isolated until they are old enough to get their shots at 6–8 weeks (depending on your vet) and you MUST get their follow-up shots on schedule (usually 3 weeks apart) and discuss with your vet about additional vaccines that are not as common but may be warranted if the kittens were not able to get at least 3–4 weeks of milk from mom.

Can you take kittens from mom?

This is POLAR OPPOSITE from usual cat mom, kitten & human interactions!!! But because this Mom has already demonstrated that HER sense of self-preservation overrides her maternal instincts, the humans involved must be prepared to remove the kittens from the mother at the FIRST indication that Mom may not want to care for them. Keep kitten bottles, KMR or Goats Milk on hand in case you need to move them indoors with you to begin bottle feeding them.

Can a cat lactate a kitten?

There have been reports of spayed female mammals (dogs and cats) spontaneously lactating when presented with an orphan kitten. This usually happens when the animal has strong maternal instincts and takes several days to happen. But I would not count on it, it is a pretty rare phenomena. What is more likely is that a cat that already has a litter accepts another orphaned mammal (it doesn't even necessarily have to be a kitten—there have been reports of cats accepting puppies and even squirrels) during the time they are raising their litter. Cats in general have pretty strong maternal instincts

Can you use a cat that has been spayed?

No. Of course, you can’t use just any old spayed cat and have her produce milk for a kitten. However, and I assume you’re asking about the mom of the kitten, you can spay the mom of the kitten and she will continue to have and produce milk for her baby. The mammaries are not removed or touched during spay surgery. Most of us in rescue wait until she is weening the babies (6–8 weeks) and then get her spayed, so if she doesn’t want them to nurse when she gets back, they are ok to eat.

What hormones cause lactation?

An imbalance of the hormones progesterone and prolactin is another cause of lactation. Progesterone is the hormone that causes pregnancy symptoms and prolactin is the hormone that causes lactation, or milk production.

Is a feline reproductive process different from a human?

The feline reproductive process is slightly different than that of humans. It depends more on the act of mating itself. Like humans, though, hormonal imbalances can be one of multiple potential causes.

Can cats have hypothyroidism?

Cats with hypothyroidism may also experience false pregnancy and produce milk. In this case, it is caused by diverse blood changes. However, this is rare.

Can a cat be spayed?

Being Spayed. For some cats, being spayed can be the cause of false pregnancy and milk production. According to WebMD Pets, some have experienced this condition 3 to 4 days after the removal of the uterus and ovaries.

Can a male cat have a false pregnancy?

Mating with an Infertile Male. False pregnancy can also result from mating with an infertile tom, or male cat. As previously mentioned, the act of mating is what normally causes females to ovulate. If a female mates with an infertile male, an egg is released but never fertilized. The release of the egg causes the female's body to react ...

Do cats ovulate when they are not mated?

Unlike humans, cats normally do not ovulate until they are actually in the process of mating. According to the Cat Health Guide, approximately 30 to 35 percent of queens, or unspayed female cats, ovulate even when they have not mated. This will cause symptoms of pregnancy, including milk production.

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1.Can Cats Breastfeed After Being Spayed? - Kitty Devotees

Url:https://kittydevotees.com/2022/02/22/can-cats-breastfeed-after-being-spayed/

35 hours ago  · A spayed female cat’s milk production will usually dry up within a few days of the surgery. However, if the surgery is done close to the time of her kittens’ birth, she may continue …

2.Can Cats Produce Milk Even Though They Are Not …

Url:https://pets.thenest.com/can-cats-produce-milk-even-though-not-pregnant-10868.html

12 hours ago A spayed cat's reproductive organs are removed during the spaying surgery, so she will no longer produce eggs or become pregnant. However, a small percentage of spayed cats (between 1 …

3.How Long After Spaying does Mom Still Have Milk? | Cat …

Url:https://www.catforum.com/threads/how-long-after-spaying-does-mom-still-have-milk.127528/

31 hours ago  · Spayed cats can produce milk under the right conditions. For example, a spayed cat can lactate a few days after surgery as a result of the hormones surrounding pregnancy …

4.Will a spayed cat produce milk to nurse an abandoned …

Url:https://www.quora.com/Will-a-spayed-cat-produce-milk-to-nurse-an-abandoned-kitten

11 hours ago  · Can a Spayed Cat Produce Milk? It is possible for a mother to raise kittens if it has been sterilized. When the kittens are still nursing, you may want to have your mother’s cat …

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