Mastitis

What is mastitis?

Mastitis is the term used to describe inflammation and enlargement of the mammary glands. Usually caused by a bacterial infection, mastitis is incredibly painful for the cat, and detrimental to the health of her kittens. This condition is usually seen in nursing mom cats, and while it is relatively uncommon, you will still need to keep an eye out if you are fostering a nursing mom with kittens. Symptoms of mastitis include:

  • Swelling and redness around nipple(s)

  • Resistance to nursing kittens

  • Changes in color or consistency of milk, or leaking of blood/pus

How is mastitis treated?

At APA! we treat mastitis with a heavy-duty course of antibiotics, pain relief, and occasionally topical treatments. Because mastitis can progress very quickly, our vets need to take immediate action as soon as symptoms appear. If you notice any symptoms of mastitis in the mama cat you are fostering, please fill out the Neonatal Medical Request Form and email pictures to bbrxtech@austinpetsalive.org.

Please note that kittens often need to be separated from their mom when she is diagnosed with mastitis, to give her time to recover without nursing. If you suspect that your nursing mom has mastitis, please keep a very careful eye on the kittens' weights, and contact your mentor if they stop reliably gaining 10g/day.