"Black" is a female age unknown, she was a stray I adopted, I've had her for over a year now. My neighbor said she saw Black get bitten by a snake several weeks ago. She was very lethargic and off her feed for several days, but otherwise fine. Now either she is very much pregnant and/or sick again. I had assumed she was fixed, maybe not though. She is extremely tender from between her front legs, down her sides and under her belly and has become plump as of recent. There also appears to be milk developing or swelling on her underside? Normally a very tolerate animal she is in a don't touch me mode (in any of the above areas). She is a very vocal/communicative cat and will growl and even go so far as to swat without claws to prove her point. Any suggestions?

-- Karen Blenis (gleane@hotmail.com), May 28, 2001

Answers

Sounds as if it could be an abcess. Getting so big so fast doesn't sound like pregnancy. Then again, maybe she is pg. Have had lots of cats in my younger years and we had lots of kittens - spaying was unusual way back then. All the cats loved to have their bellies gently rubbed when their milk started getting ready to come in. But an abcess is a _very_ painful thing and not wanting to be touched would make sense in that case. A big abcess developing a couple of weeks after a snake bite isn't unusual and if that's what's happening, it needs to be opened and drained asap. The wound will need to be flushed and the cat will probably need antibiotics for a while.

You are going to have to take a good look at what's going on - get some help to restrain her and VERY gently feel around with your fingertips. Are all the breasts are "filling with milk"? Is the "swelling" equal on both sides of her body, both indicating pregnancy? Is the swelling one huge knot, indicating abcess? If so, best to get her to a vet. If you have never opened and drained an abcess, let the vet show you how it's done. It's a nasty, scary job that can leave your stomach turning inside out. An abcess is filled with pus and you must be very careful not to let any of it get on your scratched or broken skin as the infection is easily spread. If memory serves, both Staph and Strep germs are not unusual in abcesses, so be careful.

Carol Mora - in the lovely mountains of Virginia

-- Carol Mora (carollm@rockbridge.net), May 28, 2001.

Does sound like something else besides being pregnant .I would get her checked out by a vet .

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), May 29, 2001.