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Can a spayed cat relactate??

17 years ago

In my continuing saga of Annie (calico, spayed a couple of weeks ago) and Pogo (her son, black, six months old, about to be neutered today), yesterday they were curled up in Pogo's bedÂnursing!

A happier nursing couple you could not imagine...he kneading and sucking, she grooming him. Their purrs could be heard ten feet away. As for me, I was stunnned into silence. After a while I started worrying about her incision, so I removed Pogo. I had to break the suction with my finger.

It may well be significant that Annie was pregant when she was spayed. I'm guessing she may still have some prolactin, or the feline version thereof, circulating in her system. I'll ask the vet about it when I take Pogo in this morning.

None of my previous cats were ever pregnant, so this is new to me. When I was a (human) breastfeeding advisor I remember reading about adoptive mothers managing to produce some milk through breast stimulation alone. I hope Annie doesn't start making milk again...that's all the encouragement Pogo needs! Is there any harm in him using Annie as a pacifier? I don't know how I could keep them apart at this point, although he'll be confined to my bedroom for a week or so after the neutering. Do you think he'll stop being such a "breast man" after he's neutered? :-)

Never a dull moment....

Thanks!

Susan

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Comments (7)

User
17 years ago
It's the nursing ... virgin females, and even toms, can be induced to produce milk if you can get them to hold still for the nursing.
irishdancersgram
17 years ago
We are taking care of 3 semi ferals, mother and 2 siblings, and after having them altered, that same thing happened. I was really surprised but figured, it was OK...The mom, who is at least 8 yrs. old, is still very protective of her 2 kids and the male, who is twice her size, is really a momma's boy. She keeps them in line, forever bathing them and every once in awhile, "Buddy" will snuggle just like he's nursing...
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yborgal
17 years ago
Our chihuahau had just been spayed when we rescued her. She was producing milk and leaked for about 4 weeks. The Vet said that this happens sometimes. It gradually stopped and her nipples went down to normal size.
alisande
Original Author
17 years ago
Well, the vet advised me to discourage the nursing because it could cause a problem with her incision. For right now, Pogo's confined to my bedroom for his own post-surgical recovery. But I don't know what I'll do if they try to pick up where they left off in a week or two.

Does anyone know of a safe substance I can put on Annie's nipples to discourage her snuggly son?
yborgal
17 years ago
Maybe you could put a little sleeveless sweater on her?
acorn
17 years ago
Bitter Apple works
When RocKat my bottle baby got weaned from his bottle he sucked the webbing between my fingers when he wanted comfort. I was getting afraid he would become a big cat and still be hanging from my fingers LOL but he outgrew it and now he is two and I no longer have "finger hickies"
Lily316
17 years ago
My cat Annie tried to nurse from her mom , Nellie for a long time after Nellie, a stray, was neutered..And even more bizarre, my two foster kittens, Buster and Henry sucked on each other many times when they were sleeping on their blanket..Brought back thoughts of mom, I guess, but looked a little gay to me.

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