weaning kittens

[blackcat]

Esther was still lactating when she was spayed. But at three months the kitten really ought not to be suckling (though Smidgen was quite shameless about accepting favours from Esther when he arrived and found her offering milk still!!). A few days apart would sort out the lactation as without demand she will not continue producing as her hormones will take over and dry her off. If there is an underlying health issue then medication will dry her off also.

If you take the cat away, then the kitten can not access her and the problem will be resolved. But then you are stuck with the neutering costs unless by prior arrangement with the owner.

[JackSpratt]

I assume that usually - after I got a lift to pick up a "fluffy grey cat" that was on  Freecycle and came out with a stunning specimen now known as Noni Baroni....

[Pinkbear (Julie)]

One thing you can be certain of when dealing with 'the public' is that you never get to the bottom of anything.  It all sounds like a pack of lies to me. 

[JackSpratt]

I am so out of depth with this it's unreal to be honest; as I have no experience whatsoever of nursing mums I can't really offer any real help.

[madamcat (Edd)]

Hi

My girl was not heavily lactating - hence why the vets would do the spay in an attempt to stop the over-indulgence. From a neutering campaign I did, I know that most vets say it is not good to spay a heavily lactating queen and would wait til the milk dries up.

Agree with all what Teresa has said - something does not seem quite right here.

Hope you can sort it out 

[JackSpratt]

Have PM'd you a little more info, Teresa. Thank you for your help - I class it as invaluable. 

[Teresa Pawcats]

Would she hand mother and kitten over together ?

[JackSpratt]

  you think I should leave the lady to her own devices? Sorry, the kitten is being kept back because it's been coughing. The lady says she wants the cough to clear up before it goes to a new home. (He's a tom kitten, by the way.)

[Teresa Pawcats]

Its not fair to spay a heavily lactating queen, but neither is it fair to allow this kitten to continue feeding from mum.

I asked earlier why is this owner keeping kitten and rehoming mum ? I can see a plea on here in the future to rehome kitten after she has matured and produced her own litter. I understand the need to help an animal but I also understand that BSB take unsuspecting well meaning people for a ride.

[JackSpratt]

The lady said the mum cat can't be spayed because she's producing too much milk - is this a viable reason for not spaying her?

[Teresa Pawcats]

Firstly why is the mumcat being rehomed and not the kitten.

I have dealt with this sort of thing before and afraid you have to be cruel to be kind to get kitten weaned,but first you need to know kitten is healthy.

[madamcat (Edd)]

Hi

Is the kitten having any food at all - if not then that is not right and a vet visit as Julie says.

My girlie (who came to me 6 months old and pregnant) was an over-indulgent mum to her 3 kittens. Although the kittens were eating fine, she kept on calling them over to feed from her. At 7 weeks the vet suggested we spay her which we did and at the 12 week stage (when they kittens went to their new homes) she was still doing it. Of course the kittens ate fine in their new homes.

So could be an over-indulgent mum - and again a visit to the vet probably needed.

[JackSpratt]

Time for the vet, then. Something is wrong there! 

I can suggest it, but can't guarantee she'll listen. The cat is being listed on our local Freecycle for a new home....

[Pinkbear (Julie)]

Time for the vet, then. Something is wrong there! 

[JackSpratt]

I don't have the cat - it's got to be something a "bog standard" cat owner (I use the word owner not carer, because that's how some people see a cat) would be prepared to do.

[Fire Fox]

Maybe you could try warmed raw meat? I am no kitten expert but some of the tiny tots on YouTube are seriously enthusiastic about their raw diet.

[JackSpratt]

Talked to a lady today who has an unspayed female ( ) I'm helping look for a home for. I asked if she'd be prepared to get the cat spayed before it came to me, and she told me she couldn't because the cat still has a kitten feeding from her. Apparently the kitten is three months old but refuses any attempts at weaning. Anyone got any experience of weaning stubborn kittens?