Ask Me Help Desk - Why is my spayed cat lactating?

Lucy has never had kittens, but I suspect she has been lactating for over a year. Though I only just discovered actual milk. My mom's cat, Lilykay had a litter in August 2011, and another in August 2012. I think that might be why Lucy's been lactating, but Lilykay was a perfectly attentive mother, and Lucy's barely older than the first litter.

So lucy was neutered a year ago? Right ? It could be a change in hormones even now. Unless you are positively sure she was spayed by the vet of your choice, but then you would sure know when she was in heat every what, 8 weeks.

I don't actually know what your question is really, but does this answer it somewhat?

Quote:

Originally Posted by tickle

So lucy was neutered a year ago? right ? It could be a change in hormones even now. Unless you are positively sure she was spayed by the vet of your choice, but then you would sure know when she was in heat every what, 8 weeks.

I dont actually know what your question is really, but does this answer it somewhat?

I'm sorry, I had worried that it would be unclear. I was typing on my phone, so I couldn't really review it. Lilykay, my mom's cat, gave birth a year ago, when Lucy was only about a month old. Even though Lilykay was attentive to her kittens, they started nursing on Lucy at about four months or so. A few of them were never really weened properly. I had suspected that Lucy was lactating then, (she hadn't been spayed yet) but I never checked. Lilykay had another litter seven months ago, and when this litter was old enough to wander from her, they nursed on Lucy as well. We managed to get everyone spayed and neutered this January, but two of the kittens from Lilykay's most recent litter are still nursing on Lucy. Lilykay was very firm in not allowing any of her kittens to nurse on her when they got old enough, but Lucy always let them do it. Just this morning, I finally squeezed a nipple to see if she really was lactating or if the kittens were just suckling for comfort, and there is indeed milk. I think there has been for at least a year now.

My question is why? She's spayed, she's never had kittens... If it was a false pregnancy, shouldn't it be over by now? Also, is it harming her? We haven't been giving her any calcium supplements to make up for what she's losing. She's just on an adult cat food. It seems odd for it to have gone on this long.

If she is indeed spayed, than it's probably a hormone imbalance.

I would suggest you speak with a vet about this problem. It's not normal, but it's also not harmful and surprisingly common. The kittens nursing on her is only going to make her produce more milk. Try and separate her from the kittens for a few weeks. The kittens attempting to nurse on her are too old and should be weaned anyway.

If she is spayed, and in a hormonal imbalance, my thoughts too, then the milk she is producing is not normal lactating milk and of no use to the kittens who are nursing on her. She no longer has the ability (ingrained in queens) to , or urge to wean them. You will have to do this, separate everyone.

I agree it is not harmful and may go on throughout her adult life.