Mary Allen
Mastitis in cats is an inflammation of the teats, i.e. the teats. It affects some mother cats in the first two weeks after birth and needs to be treated as soon as possible. Otherwise, there is a risk of life-threatening blood poisoning. You can find out everything you need to know about mastitis here.
When your cat has puppies, you should keep an eye on her teats. As a result of engorgement, these can become inflamed and cause mastitis in cats. This can be dangerous for both the mother animal and the kittens.
What is Mastitis in Cats & How Does It Happen?
The technical term for inflammation of the mammary glands (Greek “mastos”) in cats is “mastitis”. Bacteria such as E. coli, streptococci, or staphylococci are to blame. If the milk accumulates in the teats, the bacteria can multiply there and trigger an inflammatory reaction.
Stagnation and subsequent sore teats often occur when some kittens die shortly after birth and the remaining kittens cannot drink all the milk the mother produces. However, mastitis can also occur under other circumstances. It is believed that kittens’ tiny claws leave small lesions in the skin next to the teats. Bacteria can easily penetrate there. However, that alone cannot be the reason, since the teat inflammation does not affect every mother cat.
Suspected Mastitis? When Your Cat Needs To Go To the Vet
The inflamed mammary glands are indicated by swollen, red teats that are hot to the touch. Your cat appears generally ill and exhausted, has a fever and pain in the inflamed areas. If you see these symptoms of feline mastitis, don’t hesitate to take your cat to the vet.
Complications can arise from inflamed mammary glands if a purulent abscess forms on the teat. If this bursts, there is an open wound. In the worst case, the bacteria can get into the bloodstream and lead to life-threatening blood poisoning.
Mother cats with mastitis often reject their kittens when they try to drink milk because it causes them pain. For this reason, too, rapid treatment is necessary so that the little ones are adequately cared for. If she lets them drink, the bacteria can spread to the kittens. So you may have to bottle raise the kittens. If so, your vet will show you how.
Treating Mastitis in Cats: Antibiotics are Essential
Antibiotics are needed to fight the bacteria that cause the inflammation. Cooling compresses can provide additional relief and reduce the swelling. Follow your veterinarian’s instructions on how much and how long to take your sick cat’s antibiotics and mastitis will usually recover quickly. The active ingredients in the medication can pass into the milk, but will not harm the kittens.
It becomes more complicated when an abscess has formed. The vet will need to cut open the abscess to remove the pus and flush the wound with disinfectant solution. If the abscess has already destroyed the affected teat too much, it must be amputated. Then an operation is inevitable.