My cat had kittens. Why is she acting strange and has a sore lip?

This could be the beginning of a condition also known as "rodent ulcer", it's basically an autoimmune reaction and it is not surprising if it starts to occur around pregnancy time. at the moment as long as it doesn't bother her and it doesn't become much larger, i would recommend just monitoring it, as treatment for this condition usually involve steroids which you can't give to a lactating mother.

I hate to hear Strawberry is having this issue! No, that is not normal. I suspect she is either having an allergic reaction or that her immune system is suppressed (having kittens is hard on the body) and she is experiencing an autoimmune condition. Strawberry needs to be examined by the veterinarian. You will need to bring her kittens with her. The doctor may be limited on what they can do since she is nursing but hopefully they will be able to provide some sort of therapy. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. From the blurry picture, it is tough to say for sure what this is but it looks as though there is a ulcerated sore on the upper right lip. This looks as though it could be consistent with an indolent ulcer, which is part of a disease known as Eosinophilic Granuloma Complex (EGC). The cause of EGC is typically unknown but treatment is generally steroid therapy (topical and systemic). Generally, an antibiotic and anti-inflammatory are used to treat these. Also, if Leo is drinking / eating out of plastic bowls, switch to metal or ceramic to see if this helps. Many times, these lesions pop up for no known reason and go away after treatment. These lesions may not show up for months to years later once initially resolved. If this sore is not improving, I would have a veterinarian take a look at it so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps!

Hi, and thanks for your question. This could be due to an allergy, although it could also be infection or mites. I don't think it looks like an ulcer. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat with a high quality flea treatment, then ask the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try to discover the cause of the allergy. Three main type of allergies are usually affecting pets: food allergies, flea and parasite related ones and environmental type (allergens coming from trees, pollens, dust etc etc). Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair any possible skin lesions (like steroids and antibiotics). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a behavioral change due to the hormonal changes in her body right now from the pregnancy. However, this could be her expressing her discomfort if she is not feeling well. I would recommend having a veterinarian examine her and have her blood tested to see if there are any abnormalities that need to be addressed. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any further questions and I would be glad to help you further. I am also available via phone or text consultation if needed.

It is not likely to be a retained kitten if she had [a normal delivery](https://www.petcoach.co/article/queening-giving-birth-in-cats) and is behaving normally otherwise (no [vomiting](https://www.petcoach.co/cat/condition/vomiting/), [diarrhea](https://www.petcoach.co/cat/condition/diarrhea/), [loss of appetite](https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-isnt-my-cat-eating), discharge, etc.). It may be a hernia, but your veterinarian will need to make the diagnosis after a physical exam. If it is a hernia, a repair may be done if you decide to have her spayed. [Spaying](https://www.petcoach.co/article/spaying-ovariohysterectomy-the-benefits-in-cats) would strongly be recommended if she is not breeding stock or a show cat. This would prevent accidental or unwanted litters in the future. Spaying also decreases the risk of mammary gland tumors (breast cancer) and eliminates the risk of a pyometra (uterine infection) later in life.

This sign could be compatible with an upper respiratory tract inflammation/infection (inflammatory, allergic, infective). A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. Regarding the mouth sores, the best would be to see a picture (you can attach it on another question on the forum), especially to understand if it may be related or not to the cough. Some type of allergic lesions can be part of the same disease and have same treatment. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.