Mastitis is an infection caused by bacteria. It is present in the mammary gland and limited to female cats. It may affect one or more than one gland and normally occurs in lactating animals. It is rare and is mostly found in female dogs rather than female cats. It is mostly caused by ascending infection from the teat opening. Other than that, it can also be caused because of the distress of feeding the kittens or hematogenous spread or poor cleanliness issues. Older cats are more prone to this ailment. Mastitis is a painful affliction which is confined. However, some animals may also become very ill or get bacterial infection in their bloodstream.
Symptoms
Some of the factors that indicate towards mastitis are swelling of the mammary gland/s, abnormal growth of the teats, redness, discharge of discolored milk that might contain pus, soreness of the mammary glands, lethargy, a decrease in the craving for food and sometimes even fever. Usually crying kittens or unwell or dying newborns also indicate towards mastitis.
Mastitis is not a very serious illness thus, the only indicator that you might notice is the queen (female cat) not letting her kittens feed.
Causes
Mastitis can be a product of a number of reasons. These essentially include poor cleanliness routine, post-natal trauma and other secondary diseases that might trigger the onset of mastitis.
Diagnosis
Mastitis can be diagnosed solely on the basis of the cat’s history and physical examination. However, other tests may also aid in the diagnosis such as microscopic fluid analysis which examines the white blood cell count and pH level of the milk in order to determine the presence of bacteria and suitable antibiotics respectively. Then there is aspirate and cytology of solitary masses which is similar to microscopic fluid analysis. Tests of bacterial culture and sensitivity of the fluid also help in determining the right choice of antibiotics, and complete blood count to evaluate the number of white blood cells.
In case the illness has assumed serious proportions, tests such as urinalysis in case of kidney problems, biochemical profile, chest and abdominal radiographs and blood cultures to find out any presence of potentially harmful bacteria may become necessary too.
Sometimes the only symptom of mastitis is the cat refraining from feeding her kittens. This can be sidelined on the pretext that the cat is immature or uncaring. This must not be done and the teats must be examined closely if there is such an occurrence.
Treatment
There are many methods through which mastitis can be successfully treated. This includes systemic antibiotic therapy. Cats with mastitis are very receptive to antibiotics and usually have a speedy recovery. The treatment of the nursing neonates is usually more labor intensive and difficult. The cats can continue feeding the kittens as it is beneficial for the cat in the way that all the infected milk is discharged. Likewise it isn’t harmful for the kitten to feed on such milk until or unless the gland has been abscessed or gangrenous. The milk, however, has bad nutritional value and the kittens will need supplementary food.
Under the circumstances in which the blood has been infected by the bacteria, hospitalization may become necessary. Such a condition is serious but luckily rare.
Keeping the gland empty and discharging all the infected fluid by either feeding the kittens or manually achieving it will help improve the situation. Warm water compresses are extremely helpful in discharging the infected fluid out of the gland.
Sometimes, the situation is so dire that you must revert to surgery to remove all the abnormal volume of infected fluid being accumulated in the gland. However, if all other methods of treatments fail, mastectomy would have to be carried out.
Fluid therapy is important for cats infected with bacteria.
Home Care and Prevention
Warm water compresses shall be needed in case the glands are still sore. It is up to you however, if you want to wean the young ones of your cat or not. There are a lot of suitable milk replacement products available in the market.
As mastitis is related to feeding, it can be avoided if you make your cat refrain from mating by getting it spayed. However, if you do intend to breed, then, make sure that there are good hygiene conditions and cleanliness on a regular basis.
You must also closely examine your cat’s teats for signs of swelling, redness or pain in case your cat is nursing its young ones. Also, the kittens must be weighed on a regular basis to attain their normal growth rate.
In case of immune-compromised and bacteria infected cats, this ailment can become severe and reach other glands. It may also exacerbate to bacterial blood infection also known as septicemia. In some cases, the teats may also become abscessed or infected. Under such circumstances, more care is to be taken while the veterinary might also suggest surgery.
As far as infected mammary glands are concerned, they lose their blood supply and subsequently become darker and even ulcerated.
Once the medical checkup is over, you must make sure that your cats has a normal diet and that you are giving it the recommended doses of antibiotics. If you are having any problems concerning the treatment of your cat, take advice from your veterinary.
Disorders with Similar Symptoms
Mammary gland enlargement because of advanced pregnancy may have similar symptoms as noted during mastitis. Since there is milk being produced in that period, more than normal amount may collect in the gland causing pain and making the gland warm.
Another ailment that causes immense enlargement of the mammary gland is mammary fibroepithelial hypertrophy. It causes a stiff swelling of the gland.
Tumors in the mammary glands may also have the same symptoms as mastitis. This commonly occurs in older cats and may be mistaken for mastitis particularly if the gland has ulcers.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Moemu kotu 15 let ,nedavno ya obnarugila u nego pripuxlost molo4noy gelezi ,rzmerom v goroshinu. Pogaluysta napishite 4to delat?
I wish i could understand what you have been asking? Can anyone translate it for me?
I have a ferrel “kitten” approx. 8-9 mths old which is pregnant (about 3-4wks) for the second time! We have finally coaxed her into letting us befriend her with the intent of spaying her. We finally “captured” her, took her in for an exam only to find out she is pregnant and now has a bad mastitis on one whole side! The vet gave us a poor prognosis regarding saving any kittens, saying the cat would be unable to feed them and we would likely have to bottle feed. The antibiotics may cause defective bone developement and suggested we do what we had initially brought her in for….spaying! Is this truly our ONLY options? Putting any selfish reasons aside (2 hr feedings, expense of meds, etc. for 2 full-time plus working people) Can this be resolved (cured) while pregnant and the kittens saved without the “worst case senario” our vet has painted???
And YES we will spay after she is healthy, and NO she is not going back outside! She is our “house cat” now. We’ve accepted all responsiblities!
All i can say is to show it to a different vet to take a second opinion but no website can match the knowledge of Vet since they have first hand knowledge of the whole situation. I would even advise you not to ask anyone on the net as well as it is always better to take second opinion from some other known and famous vet in your area. Wish you a healthy cat and kittens.