Could somone please confirm / advise that it is normal for a mother cat who is no longer being suckled, but has still got milk in her teats, to have runny poo and that this is the milk coming out of the body. Also, would this cause the poo to have bit of 'mucas' within it? If this is 'normal' can anyone advise approx how long I can expect this to go on for. She left her kittens last Tuesday (31/05) and hasn't been suckled since. Her underneath has cooled down considerabley since we got her. In fact, this morning I would say that she felt normal temperature underneath, although still lumpy, but it was also this morning that the poo had some slimey stuff in it.

Abby is eating very well and seems bright enough although sleeping quite a lot. I have put the latter down to being spayed, being vaccinated & being rehomed all within three days and that this is her way of recovering from all of these ordeals.

In 30 years of being a cat slave, I've never had one who has had kittens so all of this stuff is totally new to me...

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I've never heard or read of the link between recent lactation and 'poo problems'. Nor could I say that I've ever noticed a change in any of my girls' poo's when they're either lactating or have recently stopped feeding kittens. That doesn't mean it's not possible though, I guess.

I'd think it was much more likely dietary related, particularly if there's been any change in her diet or a result of a little bit of stress... though I know she's landed well and truly on her feet with you as her new owner

Thank you.

It was the lady at the rescue who gave me this info on Monday when I called to update her on how Abbs was settling in. Her poo was soft with a mix of runny at the beginning of her arrival, then went to soft and then back to the mix again. The last two days has seen more runny with a bit of soft. And then the slimey stuff this morning...

I've been feeding her exactly the same foodstuff since her arrival, with no changes or treats, to allow for her tummy to settle.

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Eeeek congratulations of a new kitty cat AND being a kitty grandmother

I hope little miss Abby hardens up soon and that all is well with momma and babies

Nor have I at the stage the OP is describing. It isn't unusual for a cat to have a slightly upset stomach around the time her kittens are weaning because the mum is still ingesting their waste. While they only consume mother's milk it's all a very well designed closed system. Once they are eating 'real' food the waste products can upset the mum's system a bit.

I wonder if this is what has confused the lady at the rescue centre as the two things would be much more closely linked timewise with kittens removed from mum quite young.

Thank you Charlie. Fortunately, I am not a 'grandmother' - the kittens have stayed at the rescue. I think Oscar & Merson would have upped sticks & left home had I brought the four kittens AND their mommy home with me!!!


Abby walked out on her kittens last Tuesday (31st May) and as such, was still producing milk but it was not being used. (She was spayed on Thurs 2nd June) Hence the comment from the lady at the rescue and my question asking for confirmation of this as I am still getting the runny poo and could do with knowing at which point I need to start worrying that it is no longer normal.

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As Havoc said, it would be considered normal for mum to have a bit of an upset tummy if she was still cleaning up her kittens at the time they'd started weaning but given the time frames you've mentioned, I wouldn't consider the problem you're experiencing with her is linked to that, so no, I wouldn't say it's 'normal'.

I know you said her diet hasn't changed at all so perhaps a trip to the vet might be in order. I suppose it's possible that her diet doesn't suit her and the poo problems could have gone unnoticed at the rescue, particularly if she was well in all other respects.

Anaesthetics can leave a cat with an upset stomach. My best guess is that the combination of spay, new home etc. has caused a bit of an upset and her stomach is now a touch sensitive. If she's otherwise well in herself she probably just needs something to rebalance her digestive system. A quick check at the vet to rule out anything else would put your mind at rest and they will also be able to supply something to help her back onto an even keel.