Mastitis in Cats: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Mastitis is a health problem in cats that, if it progresses, can lead to serious problems such as blood poisoning. In this article, you can find answers to frequently asked questions about mastitis in cats. What is Mastitis? Mastitis is the name given to inflammation that occurs in the mammary glands. Mastitis is not a disease exclusive to cats and can occur in any animal. As a result of the inflammation, pain, swelling, and redness occur. Mastitis can occur in a single teat or in multiple teats. Mastitis is usually seen as a result of a bacterial infection. As a result of trauma to the teat or nipple, bacteria enter the milk duct and progress to the mammary glands. Here, they cause a bacterial infection. Even without physical trauma, infection can occur as a result of the female cat living in unhealthy and unhygienic environments. Very rarely, mastitis can occur without infection. Infection can be observed as a result of trauma to the mammary glands or milk accumulation due to prolonged lack of milk production. Mastitis is most commonly seen after birth. Mastitis has been observed to occur in situations such as continued milk production immediately after kittens are weaned, death of a kitten, or insufficient milk production from the udder.

Mastitis Nedir?

Mastitis is the name given to inflammation that occurs in the mammary glands. Mastitis is not a disease exclusive to cats and can occur in any animal. The inflammation results in pain, swelling, and redness. Mastitis can occur in a single teat or in multiple teats. Mastitis is usually caused by a bacterial infection. Trauma to the udder or nipple can cause bacteria to enter the milk duct and travel to the mammary glands, where they can cause a bacterial infection. Even without physical trauma, infection can occur if a female cat lives in unhealthy and unhygienic environments. Very rarely, mastitis can occur without infection. Trauma to the mammary glands or milk accumulation due to prolonged lack of milk intake can lead to infection. Mastitis most commonly occurs after birth. It has been observed to occur in situations such as continued milk production immediately after weaning of kittens, death of a kitten, or insufficient milk intake from the udder.

What are the Symptoms of Mastitis?

The first symptom that appears in the early stages of mastitis is that the kittens do not develop at the required rate. In cats, insufficient milk is secreted due to milk duct blockage, and this slows down the development of the kittens. With careful examination, slight swelling or inflammation may be seen in the mammary glands. In these stages, cats usually do not show any signs of illness; only minor discomfort may be observed.

As mastitis progresses, inflammation and swelling of the mammary glands increase in cats. Along with this, color changes such as redness or bruising usually occur. Progression also causes pain. Wounds and openings may occur in the mammary glands. Milk from a mastitic udder may contain blood clots or infection. Therefore, the milk has a cloudy, dark color and a thicker consistency.

When mastitis in cats progresses, it becomes a visible disease. The infected udder turns a dark purple or black color. Due to the increasing infection and reduced blood circulation, tissues begin to die. Some cats exhibit lethargy, fever, loss of appetite, and vomiting. As the infection enters the bloodstream, symptoms of blood poisoning also appear.

How is Mastitis Diagnosed?

Mastitis in cats can be diagnosed through physical examination. However, laboratory tests may be performed to rule out other potential diseases. A complete blood count is performed to determine the levels of red blood cells, white blood cells, and clotting cells in the blood. The number of white blood cells indicates infection. The amount of change in cell numbers also shows how severe the infection is. Milk taken from the infected udder can also be examined under a microscope. If bacteria or white blood cells are seen, mastitis can be diagnosed. If mastitis is caused by infection but does not improve with antibiotic treatment, a bacterial culture test is performed. Bacteria from a sample taken from the infected udder are collected and examined in the laboratory. Then, an antibiotic sensitivity test is performed on the bacteria causing the infection to determine which antibiotic will be used in treatment.

Treatment of Mastitis in Cats

The treatment process for feline mastitis varies depending on the severity of the disease. Many cats can be treated with antibiotics and painkillers. Also, sick cats can usually spend the recovery period at home with their kittens. It is recommended to manually milk the infected udder at home. This reduces discomfort and increases blood circulation, thus speeding up recovery. Unless otherwise recommended by a veterinarian, this procedure should be performed every six hours. With veterinary approval, a compress can be applied to the area to reduce pain and inflammation. In cases of very high infection, the cat may need to stay in the hospital. The aim is to heal the area with serums and injections. In some cases, the veterinarian may recommend surgery to remove the infected tissue. To prevent this, treatment should begin immediately as soon as mastitis is noticed, and medication should be used. In this way, it is possible to prevent the disease from progressing and to avoid surgical intervention.

Bilinmesi Gerekenler

The infection usually heals completely 2-3 weeks after the start of treatment. However, this process can take longer depending on the extent of the infection. In advanced and untreated cases, blood poisoning can occur. It is possible to prevent mastitis in cats. After giving birth, the mother cat usually lies down and leaves her mammary glands exposed so that the kittens can feed. In this process, ensuring the environment is hygienic is often sufficient. It is also important to ensure that the kittens are fed from all mammary glands, not just 2-3. Another important method of preventing mastitis is neutering. After neutering, the likelihood of mastitis in cats is significantly reduced. For detailed information about neutering cats, you can check our blog post titled "Neutering Cats: Benefits and Harms".