My pregnant cat has dry nipples. Can I apply Vaseline before birth?

Ok. It is likely she has some milk letdown and it dried around her nipples. I wouldn't worry about this, unless there is obvious irritation/redness around her nipples. She will clean herself. Most cats don't need assistance from a vet when they go into labor, and do quite well on their own. Just keep an eye on her for now and if possible try to trace back to when she was in heat, to get a better idea of how far along she is. Cats typically have a gestation period of around 65 days. Here is more information on things to watch out for and to help prepare you for Piper's kittens --> https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952101 In the meantime, I would recommend setting a little money aside just in case Piper does need to see the vet at some point down the road. You should also look into Carecredit.com for any emergency situations that may arise. I hope that things go smoothly with Piper and her soon to be kittens! : ) Best wishes and take care.

I would recommend a full health check as any painful skin in this area would reduce the chance that she will successfully rear kittens and any infection could be transferred to the nursing kittens. An omega fatty acid supplement may help as a natural antiinflammatory and moisturiser

Cold packs may help reduce swelling and relieve pain. I would recommend a check up anyway as the mammary glands may be inflamed and infected and a mastitis may be present. If that is the case antibiotics may be needed.

I would not apply anything topical as the nursing kittens may swallow it or even refuse to nurse. An omega fatty acid supplement can act as a natural antiinflammatory and moisturiser and can help with skin repair and recovery. I also recommend you start to partially wean the kittens onto a semi solid kitten food to reduce the demands on Chichi also

Hello, mammary chain development does not occur until very late in pregnancy. As she is nearing labor, she will begin to produce milk and her mammary glands will become enlarged. Her nipples will get big with the nursing. You should not be concerned at the moment. Make sure she has access to adequate amounts of water at all times. Hope this helps and best of luck.

You could try a little coconut oil or vitamin E directly on them (safe to lick), or look into a fish oil or vitamin E supplement to feed with Pinkie's meals for overall better skin/coat health. If the nipples look odd or infected, a vet check is also a good idea.

You are correct about the reasons for your observations. The skin color around the nipples and other places on the body can vary. Areas of dark fur often have darker, more pigmented skin. The kittens may have tried to nurse her making the nipples larger and pinker. Since she’s not spayed being around the kittens may have brought her into heat and the change in hormones can effect the size of the nipples too. I’m not overly concerned about this, I think what you are describing sounds fairly normal. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Daisy.