Mother Cat Suffocating Kittens? The 165 New Answer

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Found a litter of kittens? what you should do

Remember mom knows best. The goal is to keep the mother and kittens together to ensure the best chance of survival for the kittens. Kittens need their mother’s care and antibodies from their milk for the first few weeks of life. As they grow, the mother begins giving her kittens the crucial training they need to survive on their own.

Determine the age of the kittens:

Less than 1 week: Eyes are closed, ears are flat against head, and skin is pink. Part of the umbilical cord may be attached. 10-14 days: The eyes are beginning to open and the ears are still flat on the head. The kittens are smaller than your hand. 3 weeks (21 days): The eyes are fully open and blue in color. The ears are erect and tooth buds are visible. The kittens walk but are wobbly. 4 weeks (28 days): Teeth erupt through the gums. There is a possible interest in canned goods. The kittens are walking now. 5-6 weeks (35-42 days): Eyes turn from blue to adult color. The kittens are playful and begin to pounce and jump. 8-9 weeks (56-63 days): The kittens weigh about two pounds and look like little cats.

Observe calmly from a safe distance to see if the mother is present. Although the mother stays with her litter constantly for the first day or two after birth, she has to leave them briefly to support herself. If the kittens are clean and sleeping in a pile, most likely mom is looking for something to eat. Please note that it is instinctive and fairly common for a mother to move her kittens to a new “safer” place, especially in the first few weeks of their lives. Building a new nest is a cat’s instinctive behavior to protect its young by not staying in one place for too long.

DO NOT touch them

DO NOT try to create a shelter

DO NOT try to keep them warm

DO NOT attempt to feed them while the mother is around.

From time to time you may find litters of kittens in your neighborhood. Whether you should help and how you should help depends a lot on their age and whether mom is there to look after her children. Unfortunately, orphaned kittens under 4 weeks old cannot live without their mother and need 24/7 bottle feeding to survive. Luckily, most newborn kitten discoveries don’t require human assistance, and in fact, leaving mommy and her family alone is generally the best thing you can do. From May to September – the peak of the cat breeding season – it’s not uncommon to spot a nest of unattended kittens or a lone kitten that appears to have been abandoned by the mother. You’ll probably want to help, but BEFORE you jump to the rescue, please consider these facts: Most importantly, don’t touch the kittens or the space they occupy. It is important that you:

These procedures can stress the mother and cause her to abandon her family.

You can help the mother by providing food and water. Be sure to place the harness far enough away from the nest so you don’t disturb mother and her kittens or attract predators like raccoons to the nest area. And of course keep dogs and children away.

Kitten with friendly mother

If you find that the mother is friendly (socialized), it is best to bring her and the kittens indoors until the kittens are old enough to be weaned, spayed, and adopted. The mother should then be spayed and either placed in an adoptive home or returned to her territory, depending on the space available at the shelter and her temperament.

Kittens with a feral (unsociable) mother

The mother needs to be caught and spayed, but not now. As soon as the kittens are “weaned” (feeding independently – usually after 4 weeks at the earliest), the kittens can be safely separated from the mother. You can then start the socialization process at your home or bring them to our shelter to be cared for until they weigh at least two pounds. At this point, they may be put up for adoption depending on their health status. Once the kittens are weaned, the mother cat can be humanely captured, spayed and returned to her outdoor home.

How to find a home for the kittens

Kittens brought to our shelter that weigh at least 2 pounds are examined by our clinical team. If they are healthy enough they will be spayed/neutered and put up for adoption. Once kittens are 10-12 weeks old, the socialization process is much more difficult. You may have success socializing the kittens yourself, but at this point we recommend having the kittens spayed or neutered.

Kitten without a mother

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If kittens are very young (less than three weeks) and the mother hasn’t returned after four hours, you can assume she abandoned her kittens. As little kittens get cold and dehydrated easily, this would be the time for human intervention which means they will be bottle fed until they are 4 weeks or older. Commercial kitten food and kitten bottles are available at most major pet stores. DO NOT FEED MILK, TUNA, MEAT OR OTHER FOOD TO KITTENS!! When the kittens are older (open eyes and kittens roaming about), the mother may stay away for some time. Please do not consider the kittens abandoned unless the mother has been away more than 10 hours. Please note that Broward County Animal Care does not have the staff to bottle care kittens 24/7 to feed and take care of. If you want to help save the kittens, please be willing to take care of them until they are old enough to eat on their own. If after reading this information you think you have found an orphaned kitten or litter of kittens, please see the following resources provided by Alley Cat Allies and the ASPCA: For information on spaying/neutering Wild cats and kittens please contact us at

Kittens need a lot of care and attention, especially in the first few weeks of life. Sometimes you see the mother go away for a while – maybe just a few minutes, maybe longer – but she will always be back. The length of time kittens can be separated from their mother gradually increases as they grow and become more independent. It is important to ensure that the mother has full access to her kittens while they are young as she is the one best equipped to care for them. Kittens should ideally stay with mom until they are at least 12 weeks old.

How long can a mother cat be separated from her kittens? It depends on the age of the kittens. In the first week of life you have to be with her almost constantly. The length of time will increase over the next three months until the kittens are ready to go.

You have landed on this page because you have questions about kittens and their need for their mother. Maybe your own cat just had kittens and you’re worried that she’ll leave you alone sometimes. You may have noticed a feral mother with a litter that she leaves unattended when hunting. You might be wondering when kittens are old enough to leave their mother and move to new homes. Is it okay for a mother cat to be separated from her kittens? Read on because we have all the answers you are looking for.

How long can a mother cat be away from her kittens?

weeks one and two

In the first week of life, the mother cat only leaves her young a few times a day. She may duck out of the nest where she is nursing her kittens to eat, use her litter box, or perhaps stretch her legs and inspect the area for potential danger. In the wild, feral cats will leave their kittens to hunt if they must, but will return to the nest as soon as possible. It’s much easier for an indoor cat since you’re there to make sure it has food and water nearby.

At this stage, it’s okay to briefly remove the kittens from their mother so they can be weighed and checked for signs of illness or infestation. Baby kittens are very, very delicate; Even minor diseases or common pests like fleas can do a lot of damage. I heard of a very sad case where a cat owner mistakenly believed that touching the kittens would result in the mother cat repelling them. The kittens developed such a bad flea infestation that the whole litter died. Please monitor your kittens and make sure they are healthy and gaining weight.

weeks three to five

From around the third week, the mother cat can come out and play for a long time. The babies should now be a little more mobile and independent, although they still need their mother. Their eyes are fully open and they can walk short distances. They may be curious about their surroundings and want to explore a little. It’s okay to play with the kittens a little more at this stage, as long as it’s only for a few minutes. Touching and petting the kittens and perhaps tempting them with teaser toys will help socialize them.

weeks six to eight

It is around this time that mother cats begin to wean their kittens. In the wild, the mother cat would bring prey back to the nest for her kittens to nibble on. You can help by offering the kittens some solid food pureed with kitten milk (available at pet stores). The mother cat will likely be spending more time away from her at this point, although she may want to keep an eye on her babies. During this time, she will begin teaching her babies how to use the litter box and other kitty wisdom. Be sure to play with the kittens often so they have positive associations with people.

The young adult cat

From eight weeks, a kitten becomes more and more independent. They can stay away from their mother for long periods of time, but still return to play and interact with her. The mother cat supports the kitten in many ways, helping to develop confidence and various feline life skills. By the time kittens reach around 12 weeks of age, they are almost full-grown cats (although they still have a lot to grow).

Some breeders allow kittens of this age to go to their new owners, but many prefer to wait until the cat is at least 16 weeks old. In my opinion, it is very wise to wait for that extra month. Kittens gain a lot of confidence when they have their mother around; It helps them feel safe while exploring the world around them and to get used to interacting with people. In my experience, kittens removed from their mother at an early age tend to be more timid and exhibit more problematic behavior. They also appear to be less healthy and resilient. I put my British Shorthair to bed at 16 weeks and it was worth the wait.

When should kittens be desexed?

There is another problem here and that is de-sexing – castration or neutering. A responsible breeder would be reluctant to breed a “whole” purebred kitten, such as a British Shorthair, to a new owner unless that person is already established in the feline world as a responsible and caring individual with a suitable kennel ready to operate. The thought of sending a kitten to be the victim of a backyard breeder is unscrupulous. With non-purebred cats, you still want to avoid unwanted kittens and protect the growing cat from all of the health problems that whole cats inherit.

As such, kittens are usually spayed or neutered before being placed in a new home. Most vets prefer to do this at around five months. Pediatric de-sexing (neutering or spaying young kittens) is generally only done when there is a medical reason to do so. The 16 week mark is a useful compromise – most cats are big enough for the procedure by this age, while at 12 weeks they are often too small. By waiting until four months before relinquishing the kitten, a responsible breeder ensures that it can be safely de-sexed before moving in with its new guardians.

Care of the lactating woman

Have your pregnant cat checked by the vet and make sure she is healthy. Your vet will let you know if she needs to come for additional appointments. You should also plan this neutering so that she does not continue to have kittens. If you want more cats, consider adoption.

A pregnant or lactating cat needs a lot of food. You may want to supplement your usual meals with extra servings. Obesity is less of a problem than poor nutrition. Do not let them eat freely or they may vomit, but feed them at least three times a day.

You should also make sure she has a safe and quiet place to give birth, e.g. B. a box in a room with little traffic. Make sure everyone understands she needs space. Some cats choose their own places to give birth. Unless she has chosen an actively dangerous location or is likely to be repeatedly disturbed, you should probably let her have her way. She has chosen a place that she feels is safe and she will feel safer if she is allowed to stay there.

Cat moms who are feeling insecure can behave in a variety of ways, such as: B. Showing aggression or becoming territorial and destructive. In extreme cases, the mother can refuse or even kill her litter. A more likely outcome is that she takes her kittens elsewhere, and that “elsewhere” may not be a good place.

I have come across some tragic cases where a concerned mother put her kittens in an open closet or closet without anyone knowing, and then was unable to reach them once the door was closed. In one case, all the trash was lost before anyone found it. Don’t let that happen to you – make sure your nursing mommy cat is safe, happy and calm so she can raise her kittens into healthy adulthood.

FAQ

Do cats eat their kittens if you touch them?

No, a cat will not eat its kittens if you touch them.

A mother cat killing or eating her kittens is a very rare behavior that can occur when the kitten is stillborn, deformed, or has birth defects.

It can also happen when the mother cat is highly stressed.

This unlikely scenario can only happen if you over-handle the kittens or stress the mother.

If you briefly touch the kittens and keep them close to the mother, there should be no problems.

Because newborn kittens are extremely fragile and being around them can be stressful for the mother, it’s best not to handle or handle the kittens for the first few weeks.

Do not touch or touch the kittens during this time unless there is a good reason to do so.

Why it’s important to be careful when handling kittens

If you handle the kittens when the mother cat is not happy with it, she can feel threatened and agitated, leading her to want to take her kittens to a new place.

If you’ve examined the mother and kittens and find that they are no longer in the same place, it’s probably because the mother moved them all to a new, safer place.

In addition to being stressful for the mother, the young kittens are more susceptible to infection and disease, so handling them can be a risk.

Although kittens are very sweet, these early days are a tense time for both mother and kittens, so it’s best to keep your distance.

Be considerate of the mother and only do what makes her happy.

As the kittens get a little older and the new mother settles in, you may find that she is more open to having you around.

How to Safely Pick Up Kittens

It’s best to leave the kittens alone while their eyes are still closed.

During this period, it is important to only handle them if there is an urgent reason to do so.

In general, mother cats tolerate their newborn kittens being held briefly for a quick health check (weighing, checking for bleeding placenta/birth membranes in the mouth, etc.) and the kitten’s gender.

These are basic checks that only take a short time.

When you pick up a kitten to do these checks, make sure you:

Wash your hands thoroughly before picking up the kitten. Pick up the kitten with two hands, fully supporting its weight. Hold the kitten close to your chest. Do not take the kitten out of the mother cat’s sight

Some mothers are very protective and will not let them near the newborn kittens without becoming stressed and defensive.

In this case, leave the kittens alone if you can see that they are all fine (breathing, moving, nursing, etc.).

Reasons for handling a newborn kitten

While it’s best not to touch newborn kittens, there are a few reasons you may need to examine and touch the kittens.

For example:

If the mother is having difficulties giving birth and you need to take her (and her kittens) to the vet If the kittens are not moving, breathing, or their lives are in danger If the kitten is born in a poke If the kitten is not Not within the first 2 hours of the Birth suckling When a kitten is cold and shaking When the kittens are not cared for by the mother

Hopefully there is no need to touch the kittens, but watch out for the mother and the kittens just in case.

Stay close so you can keep an eye on the cats, but don’t be intrusive if your help isn’t needed.

When to leave the kittens alone

It’s common for people to want to touch the kittens, but it’s better not to touch or handle them for the first few weeks unless they need your help.

If the kittens are nursing their mother and are in a safe place and the mother is paying attention, you should leave them alone.

Once the kittens are a little older and have their eyes and ears open, you can begin to briefly touch the kittens to help them socialize and become familiar with people.

When is it safe to handle kittens

After the kittens open their eyes, you can start touching them if the mother allows you.

Before you touch the kittens, let the mother sniff your hand and pet them gently so she knows you’re not a threat.

When the mother cat welcomes the petting, you can gently pick up one of the kittens.

If the mother is stressed by your presence or her behavior changes while you are there, it is best to slow down so she knows you are not a threat.

Different cats react differently to this situation, so always monitor and respect your cat’s behavior.

Remember that cats have strong maternal instincts and if the mother feels threatened she may attack you to get you away from her kittens.

If everything is fine and the mother lets you handle the kittens, make sure the kitten you are holding is kept warm.

Due to their small size, kittens can quickly freeze and develop hypothermia.

Most of a young kitten’s energy is expended keeping warm. Keep this in mind when adopting a kitten.

Only hold them for a short time before returning them to the safety and warmth of the mother and other littermates.

Always keep the kittens close to their mother and make sure the mother can see her kitten to avoid unnecessary stress.

Newborn kittens are fragile and don’t yet have a well-developed immune system, so always be gentle and handle them with clean hands.

Rough handling can damage their bones or vital organs, so be very careful.

Why handling older kittens is important

Kitten handling and socialization is not important until their eyes and ears open, when they are about 2 weeks old.

At this point, the kittens should be gently held by different people to help them socialize and get used to human presence.

This simple socialization can help them grow into friendly, well-adjusted cats.

Rules for handling kittens

Always be gentle. Always fully support the kitten. Stay close to the mother. Make sure the kitten is warm. Do not allow small children to handle the kittens and only allow older children to handle them under supervision

Will the mother cat eat her kittens?

There are times when a mother cat will eat her kittens, but this is very rare.

A mother will not eat her kittens because you’ve handled them, unless you’ve handled them excessively or the mother cat sees you as a threat.

A mother cat eating her kittens usually happens when the kitten is stillborn, deformed, or has birth defects.

It can also happen when the mother cat is highly stressed.

Reasons why a mother cat may eat her kittens

While a mother cat is unlikely to eat her kittens because you’ve handled them, there are a few other reasons:

When the kitten is sick

A sick kitten born with birth defects or a stillborn kitten may be eaten by the mother for hygienic reasons.

They can also be rejected or neglected because of their health problems.

The mother cat can even take a sick kitten from the litter and leave the kitten in another area.

If a kitten is being rejected by the mother, this is a good time to step in, have the kitten checked out by a veterinarian, and groom the kitten separately.

When the mother cat is stressed or feels threatened

If the mother cat is stressed or anxious, she may eat her kittens.

Stress can be caused by loud noises, too many people around, and possible exposure to predators.

If the mother feels threatened (this can be from other pets, animals, or people nearby), she may eat her kittens.

To prevent this from happening, make sure the cats have a safe, sheltered, and quiet space.

When the mother cat is malnourished

A malnourished mother cat may eat a kitten or two to help her get the nutrients and energy she needs.

This behavior is instinctive and can be prevented by making sure the mother is well nourished with a diet appropriate for a pregnant or nursing cat.

When the mother cat suffers from feline mastitis

If the mother’s mammary glands become infected, it means that nursing the kittens will be very painful.

It can also be dangerous for the kittens as the infection can be passed to them while they are breastfeeding.

If you notice the mother has mastitis, it’s best to separate her and kittens and consult a veterinarian so the condition can be treated.

When the mother cat does not recognize the kittens

In some cases, the mother cat may not recognize her kittens.

This can happen if she gave birth by cesarean section because the birth-related hormones are not released naturally, which can confuse the mother.

If the kittens are frequently held and moved by people, this can result in the mother becoming stressed, threatened, or not recognizing her kittens.

That’s why it’s important to handle kittens with care, and always do so briefly and under the mother’s watchful eye.

How can you tell if the mother has adopted the kittens?

If you’ve had to deal with a kitten due to an emergency and are now concerned that the mother will reject it, simply place the kitten back with the mother and keep a close eye on it.

It is best if you position the kitten close to the mother and in such a way that it can easily begin nursing.

If the mother licks the kittens and shows motherly behavior and the kittens nurse, the kittens have been adopted.

summary

We know how tempting it is to check on your cat and her new litter of beautiful kittens, but it’s best to leave them alone.

It’s okay to hold newborn kittens briefly to check on their health and gender, but if the new mom is alert and motherly then you should leave her to her own devices.

Observe the new family from a distance and pay attention to the mother’s behavior towards you.

A mother cat won’t eat her kittens because you’ve handled them, but she will find the situation stressful. So if you must handle the kittens, do so with care.

How to feed a newborn kitten?

Kittens under 4 weeks old cannot eat solid food, whether dry or canned. They can drink their mother’s milk to get the nutrients they need. The kitten will rely on you to survive when its mother is not around.

You can give your newborn kitten a formula called a kitten milk replacement. It is important that you avoid giving a kitten the same milk that humans consume. Typical cow’s milk can make cats very sick. If you’re unsure which kitten milk replacer to choose, speak to a veterinarian. They can help you choose the right one.

For many powdered milk replacers, refrigeration is not always required. But if additional milk is prepared, it should be stored in the refrigerator. Follow these steps to feed your kitten:

Prepare the formula. Warm the kitten food to just above room temperature. Test the temperature of the formula just before feeding your kitten. Do this by putting a few drops of the formula on your wrist to make sure it’s not too hot.

Charleston, SC (29403)

today

Intervals of clouds and sunshine. High 94F. Wind WSW at 10 to 15 mph..

This evening

Partly cloudy in the evening with more clouds later in the night. An isolated shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 77F. Wind SW at 5 to 10 mph.

National Pet Choking Awareness Week will be held from November 28 to December 4, 2021

Pets literally choke on bags of chips and snacks every day. It only takes 3-5 minutes for a dog or cat rummaging through a bag for crumbs to choke to death.

It can happen to any pet, regardless of its size, age, or strength. and it can and has happened when the pet owners are in the same house, maybe even in the next room.

This danger is not the result of neglect or carelessness – even seasoned, loving pet owners have lost beloved pets.

The problem is that so few pet owners are aware that there is even a risk — it’s easy to find videos of pets trying to remove bags from their heads, which many people just find cute or funny. (To be clear, this is never funny. Not only is it extremely dangerous—after all, these are animals in the early stages of suffocation—but it’s also very distressing for the animals in these videos.)

That’s why we created National Pet Suffering Awareness Week in 2015 to spread the word and save lives! Thankfully, we’re not the only ones trying to raise awareness. After losing her dog, Blue, Bonnie Harlan raised awareness of the issue with her Prevent Pet Suffering Facebook page.

After creating this pet suffocation survey, Preventive Vet continues to receive stories each week from pet owners who have shared their pet suffocation experiences. In total, we received responses from nearly 1,300 pet owners. The information was invaluable and provided more insight into this tragically underreported topic. Even if this tragedy did not happen to your pet, completing the survey (a few anonymous questions) will provide us with important data that we will use to create public service announcements and educational materials.

What scares us most about pet choking

Even amid truly heartbreaking stories of people who have lost their pets to suffocation, the most alarming finding from our survey is how few people are aware of this common household hazard.

73% of people who have lost or almost lost a pet to choking were unaware of the possibility that their pet could choke in a bag of chips, snacks, cereal or other food or had never noticed it until now happened!

That’s 7 out of 10 times where a lack of prior knowledge has contributed to the loss or near loss of a pet’s life! It’s devastating, but it’s also an opportunity! This means we can drastically reduce the risk and save the lives of thousands of pets by raising awareness.

The biggest choking hazards for pets

Snack (e.g. crackers, popcorn, etc.) or bags of chips (69%)

Cereal Bag (6%)

Pet Food Bags (6%)

Pet Treat Bags (5%)

Other common choking hazards included bread bags, cheese bags, and hard plastic and cardboard containers.

Where Pets Find These Bags

In or near the trash can or recycling (23%)

Torn from a coffee table or side table (22%)

Grabbed from a counter (15%)

Outside, in the yard (5%)

Other bags have even been found in cars or under beds. Check out this free poster download to learn more about the journey of a bag of chips.

How you can help make a difference

Take a moment to read the stories people have shared with us

Learn the simple tips that can help prevent pet choking, and share this life-saving information with friends, family, and co-workers.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter and share the graphics, stories and pictures about Pet Suffocation Awareness.

Take a moment to sign (and share) the Prevent Pet Choking Organization petition to receive awareness and on-bag warnings.

If you’ve had the misfortune of losing or almost losing a pet to suffocation, or if you know someone who has, we hope you’ll share their story in the comments section below and take a few minutes to contribute to our Take this short pet choking survey and help us spread the knowledge about pet choking.

If you are a journalist, please consider writing or producing an article or news piece on pet choking. We’d love to connect you with people who have agreed to share their stories and pictures. Please contact us if you would like help with a story on this extremely important topic.

How pet choking occurs

Many people don’t realize that pets, regardless of their size or strength, can have trouble getting bags off their heads once they’re stuck. Not only do cats and dogs lack the thumbs to help them grasp and remove the pouch, but the pouches quickly form a vacuum-like seal around their head upon inhalation, quickly consuming the air in the pouch (see demonstration below). The oxygen content drops quickly and the carbon dioxide content increases quickly. The trapped pet panics because it cannot breathe normally and eventually dies of suffocation. These pets are often found in a very horrific way that haunts families for life.

With increased awareness and an even better understanding of how, where and when these preventable tragedies are happening, we can begin to reverse the trend and help bring about a day when no pets – or wild animals – would end their lives by choking on chips, Snacks, bread, cereal, pet food and other bags. Thank you for taking a few minutes to learn more about and raise awareness of the heartbreaking tragedy of pet asphyxiation.

GRAPHICS TO SHARE – Awareness is the best defense against pet choking

Share Angus’ story on Facebook

Share this graphic on Facebook

Share Chino’s story on Facebook

Share Jaxon’s story on Facebook

Share this graphic on Facebook

Share Jaxon on Facebook

Share Jinx’s story on Facebook

Share Skeeter on Facebook

Share Chloe’s story on Facebook

Share this graphic on Facebook

The pets that left us

A very special thank you to Bonnie Harlan, who first sounded the alarm bells about pet suffocation by starting the Prevent Pet Suffocation Facebook page after she suffocated her own dog Blue (story below) in December 2011 lost in a chip bag. Thank you, and to the individuals and families who took part in our survey and had the strength to share their personal experiences of pet choking. Your losses will not be in vain, and your efforts are already helping to protect others.

Stay healthy and be safe everyone.

The story that consciousness began – RIP Blue

“If it weren’t for that seemingly harmless bag of potato chips, Loki would still be here.” – RIP Loki

“During the 2017 Chetek tornado, little Loki was born. After this happy start in life, Loki moved to southern Wisconsin where he spent most of his time at Slewfoot Signs. He became a shop dog and brought joy to anyone who stopped. In the end, everyone loved this happy puppy.

When not at work, Loki pursued some of his other favorite pastimes. This included running through the woods, playing in the park, and chasing cats.

On May 6th, 2018, just days before his first birthday, Loki’s natural curiosity got the better of him. Running outside, he found a bag of potato chips and stuck his head in to get the last crumbs. Unfortunately the bag was taped just right and poor Loki couldn’t get it off.

If it weren’t for that seemingly harmless bag of potato chips, Loki would still be here. So now Loki wants to make sure all the other animals in the world don’t get hurt. He hopes if you see a piece of junk outside, remember his story. “Pick up the trash,” says Loki. Proper disposal of this one tiny piece could save a life. – Jeff H

“You were the best boy in the whole world.” — RIP Petey

“I kissed my little boy goodbye on the way to work. But I had no idea it would be the last time. Although I still can’t even imagine what happened…we have an obligation to share what happened to Petey to hopefully prevent it from happening to any of your babies…Christian beat me from work by about 10 minutes home and was surprised when Petey didn’t greet him at the door as usual to see our sweet boy lying lifeless with a stupid bag of chips over his head. He was able to get them off the counter, which we will forever blame ourselves for leaving out. He ate out each chip but of course went back for crumbs there was nothing left in it, each time he wanted more he inhaled and tightened the bag tighter and tighter around his head… ultimately leading to choking Paws… Since this has come up so often, we have been so surprised by the lack of awareness of this topic out there. Mainly because I was a very overprotective dog mom. …So, in honor of my boy Petey, I’m asking you to take extra care, warn other dog owners, and give your fur babies some extra love today and every day after. I pray none of you ever have to experience your heart being broken in this way. We love you dads, you were the best boy in the whole world and we will always remember our good times 🐶😇” — Christina Y.

“Rocco and Milo are siblings…they always slept together. Tonight Milo sleeps alone.” — RIP Rocco

“Obviously we are heartbroken. We came home after all our soccer games for the kids. Usually both dogs would come to the back yard gate when we parked in our driveway and we noticed there was only one. We came into the house to drop some bags and called her again from the kitchen window only saw a dog.

We walked into the backyard and saw one of them lying on the ground with a bag wrapped tightly around his head. Took him off immediately but it was too late he was cold and bloated. It was terrible. Had to put him in a crate and drive to my local vet to have him cremated. It’s so heartbreaking to have played with them just a few hours ago and then lose him.” – Ernie M.

“I don’t think I’ll ever buy chips again” – RIP Harley

“I left a bag of Lays on my dresser. After years of warning my family about bags of chips, I left one on the dresser. Not a big deal since English bulldogs are small, right?

I had a towel on the dresser so I could put my chilled drink on it without scratching the wood. The next morning my Harley Girl pulled on the towel until the bag of Lays fell off. My 18 year old son said she was alone for about 24 minutes. He came upstairs thinking how cute she looked in the chips until he realized she wasn’t moving.” – Mike E.

“The pain of this loss was greater than I could have imagined” – RIP Clifford

“We were very lucky to have Clifford and he was one of the family members, although our luck only lasted two months. He was an amazing and very, very smart dog. I don’t understand how he didn’t manage to pull the sack off his head with his paws as he was very good at manipulating objects with it. I guess he totally panicked because… we weren’t home. I didn’t put him in a box that day to avoid fear. We had only gone to church but had a battery problem in the car and stayed out longer than usual.

We loved him so much. I hate finding him in our kitchen like this, I can’t face the thought of him struggling there. I wish I had done things differently and known the insane danger a bag of Cheetos (my favorite snack – past tense) can pose. He had knocked over the recycling bin. The pain of this loss was greater than I could have imagined as we had found our perfect dog. I’m still having a hard time getting home and entering the “crime scene” area (it was still warm but CPR wasn’t working) and he was in apparent distress (pooped on the floor – we found him on a low footstool hanging, the floor was a mess). A smell remains where everything happened, even after a thorough cleaning. I find it hard to forget. I think about him constantly and we all miss him terribly. He was four months old, but already so wise, obedient, so loving, so funny, always bigger, always adorable, so sweet.” – Tamara M.

“No one should ever have to experience that” – RIP Buster

“I took my 3 year old son to pick up my husband from work. His work is 20 minutes away, we stopped at a supermarket before getting home. We chatted outside for a minute when we got home before I took my sleeping son inside to put him to bed. As soon as I opened the door, Buster was lying to his right, with a Smart Food bag over his face. I knew immediately what had happened and that he was gone. “I took my 3 year old son to pick up my husband from work. His work is 20 minutes away, we stopped at a supermarket before getting home. We chatted outside for a minute when we got home before I brought my sleeping son inside to put him to bed. As soon as I opened the door, Buster was lying to his right, with a Smart Food bag over his face. I knew immediately what had happened and that he was gone. Nobody should ever have to experience this. Busty was such an amazing dog, he’s been a part of our family for 7 1/2 years. We were devastated to lose Busty in this way, and knowing that his final moments were spent in fear is unbearable.” — Jolene S. “I really had no idea this could ever happen” — RIP Bulldozer trash with his older brothers, a yellow lab and another bulldog. Bulldozer grabbed a skinny pop bag of popcorn and ran to enjoy what was left in the bag. He choked with the bag on his head. Absolute horror to come home. We loved this pup more than life itself and really had no idea this could ever happen! Terrible.” –Jenifer W. “I heard a rushing noise that lasted so brief…” – RIP Emma “The hardest part of this story I was in my office next to the bedroom, both doors open, I heard a rushing noise that lasted so brief thought nothing of it. 15 minutes later I go to my room and Emma was lying motionless with a bag over her head. We take care of our animals with great attention to detail, food, toys, attention and love probably like most. 2 year old lab, best friend one could wish for, life aborted. ” — Bob “My heart goes out to everyone who has lost a pet this way” — RIP Chico “I left home to take my 2 year old and 4 year old to a doctor’s appointment. When I got home our baby Chico was already dead with his face in a Doritos bag. It was obvious what had happened. We rescued Chico as a companion for our 1 year old Norwegian Elkhound Elvis and our family. Everyone was overcome with sorrow. I was lucky enough to drop my kids off with my in-laws before I found Chico. My heart goes out to everyone who has lost a pet this way, especially any children who have seen their pet this way.” – Maureen F. “I lost a very big part of myself when I lost her have” – RIP Jetta “My Jetta died yesterday. The nightmare of events continues to play in my mind with sadness I’ve never felt. I came home from the store with groceries and for the first time Jetta wasn’t there to greet me. I swung open the door and yelled for her. I looked over and saw her lying still in front of the fireplace. I called out to her, but she didn’t move. It took me a second to realize that her head was completely submerged in a plastic container. I ran to her screaming and shaking her as I tried to pull that plastic container off her head. It was five puffs before I was able to take it off and I immediately began CPR to scream for help with the deepest sadness I’d ever felt while pumping my babies chest. My son-in-law arrived and continued CPR while my heart was crying out for her. After 30 minutes we could not revive her. A senseless incident. A small plastic bear jar with a twist-off lid had been the cause of my Jetta’s death. The container headset sat on the counter for over a month and never in a million years did I ever think it would take her life. I lost a very big part of myself when I lost her because I loved her with all my heart. Please share this story – I am haunted by the devastation and disbelief at what happened over a plastic container.” – Denise W.

“We never expected this to happen” – RIP Teddy

“We’ve had Teddy for almost five years and we knew he wouldn’t cause any problems. We would sometimes go to work for eight hours and come back to find Teddy on the couch, so we knew we could trust him.

I remember holding my son and feeding him on the couch when my husband yelled from the room that Teddy wasn’t breathing. He said that he found a Doritos bag over his head and that he must have dug it out of the trash. It all felt so surreal. I didn’t know what to do… I was shaking. My husband was performing CPR when I told him to rush him to the emergency room. We all got in the truck and drove off as fast as we could. We eventually got to the emergency room and the nurses took him straight away, no questions asked. We were then taken to a room and didn’t wait more than five minutes for the vet to come back with the most devastating news we could get.

Teddy was so brave and always happy…he was strong and playful…we never expected it and wish we knew about the dangers of bags.” – Bianca B.

“I am so grateful that you came into my life.” – RIP Eleanor

“Eleanor got into the chips and somehow her head got stuck in the bag. Unfortunately I didn’t wake up in time to save her. My poor sweet cheeky mischievous loving Eleanor went to puppy heaven. I’m familiar with plastic bags etc but never dreamed of a chip bag. I know this was a freak accident but wanted to share so other animal lovers/fur babies never have to experience anything like this.

Today, in memory of Eleanor, give your pets extra hugs and kisses. She would like that! Eleanor was my buddy and my best friend. She could make me laugh on the worst of days. Poo-poo bear you will always be in my heart and I am so thankful that you came into my life. I only wish you stayed longer. Rest in peace my sweet Eleanor.” — Lila L.

“There are no words to adequately describe our grief” – RIP Angus

“Angus was always on the hunt for anything and everything that was eatable. Knowing this, we made sure to put food away. But that was because he got into something that didn’t fit his stomach and then threw up on the carpet NOT because of the possibility of choking – we NEVER realized that choking was possible. A box of crackers was left on the counter by mistake and Angus found it. We are devastated by his loss and in such agony that we let him down when he needed us most. We cannot come to terms with the fear and pain he must have experienced in his final moments. There are no words to adequately describe our grief.” — Patricia M.

Danger in a Cereal Box – RIP Ripken

“My dear Ripken had gotten into cereal boxes in the past as he had a bit of a mischievous side. Although we found torn boxes, we never saw the choking hazard involved. On June 14, 2014, I was at a soccer game with my sons, and my wife and daughter ran away for about an hour. When they returned, they found Ripken lifeless with a box and the cereal bag on his head. We were shocked and the sadness will never quite leave us. We always did our cereal boxes on the bottom floor of our pantry. We must have left the doors open that day for him to get in – I will always blame myself for not protecting him from that risk. If only we had closed the pantry door or kept cereal boxes on a shelf, he would still be with us today.” -Geoff M.

“The guilt I feel is almost unbearable.” — RIP Jaxon

“Jaxon was my whole world! I’m proud that I saved him, but the truth is that he saved me. He was with me so much and on Tuesday 22nd April after having lunch with friends I came home to find my beloved Jaxon gone.

His head was still in the Holistic Select cat food bag. It’s made from the same Mylar-like material that’s used to make potato chip bags. I was only gone an hour. I’m completely shattered. I never thought something like this could happen. When I tell people what happened, they can’t believe it.

He was loved by so many. He went to his vet’s doggy daycare every day and it’s so overwhelming to see how many lives he’s touched. I just wanted to let people know how much I love him and let people know these bags are dangerous! Every month I email and write to the company that makes the cat food. I haven’t received an answer, but I write every month. My heart broke that night. It’s been 223 days since I lost him. I cried every day. The guilt I feel is almost unbearable. If I had known the dangers of this material, I would have disposed of it differently.” – Sherry W.

This happens to cats too! – RIP Waldo

“We lost a dear family member on Christmas Eve. Waldo Chester was the most intelligent and inquisitive cat. He was a little over 2 years old. He was loving to everyone, even our big dog. He knew how to open locked doors and containers. Normally, when we got home after our morning Christmas activities, Waldo would have greeted us cheerfully at the door. He was not there. Thinking he was just exploring the rest of the house we started opening our dog’s food bin to feed him and there we found dear Waldo curled up in a ball on top of all the dog food. Beware of plastic containers in your home that could easily snap shut. Curious cats will go where they can without thinking about how to get out. Rest in peace, baby Waldo. You will always be my precious little man.” – Janalee T.

The pig ears were OUTSIDE the pocket! — RIP Jaxon

“I still remember that day like it was yesterday. I came home from work and instead of the usual excited greeting I get, there was silence. I found Jaxon out in the corner of our backyard. The thing that gets me every time I think about it is that the pig ears were OUT OF THE BAG! He’d already gotten them out and they were right next to him, but for some reason he felt he had to check one last time.

I had no idea something like this could happen. Unfortunately, I still blame myself because it’s something that could have easily been avoided. He had just had knee surgery and was just starting to get back to his normal self. I have another lab that certainly won’t replace Jaxon, but is our new family member. It took me until he was over 2 years old to leave him home alone without a crate… and yet my fear is getting the better of me and I’m going to see him. The entire bottom of my bags are cut off, including french fries, cereal, treats, etc. I even find myself tucking bags up, hidden, when I’m at the house of others who have pets. I do not wish this on anyone and constantly remind of the dangers! Dog proof your home just like you were child proofing!!!” – Nikola D

A bag of bread almost killed this PTSD dog

“Jinx got caught in a King’s Hawaiian bread (sold in an orange and clear plastic bag) while we were sleeping. My amazing heeler made her way from the kitchen to the bedroom (unable to see through the bag covering her head) near where I slept, and her labored attempt to breathe woke me up. If she hadn’t asked for my help, she would have been dead when I woke up. This scared me to death and I never thought about plastic like that again!

Jinx is not only my sweetheart, but also my PTSD therapy dog. I got them as puppies after my tour in Afghanistan. I’ve had animals (dogs and horses) my whole life and this was a first for me!! Awareness is a must for this would-be killer!!”

– Maria A

“The image of finding him will forever be burned into my mind.” — RIP chinos

“On Friday, July 18, 2014, I came home from lunch with my best friend. I found my cute pair of chinos dead on the living room floor with a Rold Gold Pretzel Thin bag on his head. He had climbed into the trash can and I had no idea he could even open a trash can with the lid closed, it was still warm – so I gave him chest compressions but it was too late.

To make matters worse I had my 9 week old with me and my husband was on the plane flying home from a business trip. My poor other dog, Rolen, crouched in the corner, shaking. That was the most traumatic thing I’ve ever been through. My grief for my sweet chino is so overwhelming. The image of finding him will forever be burned into my mind. The countless “what ifs” happen almost every day. My house is so different without him.

If I had known that could even happen – every bag would be shredded. With therapy I can now look at pictures or videos without having a breakdown. It’s still hard because Chino loved our newborn son, as our son reaches milestones I think of Chino and how he would be with him.” – Catie O.

Their routine had been the same for years – RIP Skeeter

“Skeeter was unique. One day he showed up at our door, we let him in and he never left. We opened more than our door that day, we opened our hearts. We put up signs but no one claimed it. Initially, Skeeter was a scare-biter and we knew if we took him to any rescue and/or shelter there would be a good chance he wouldn’t be able to place.

Made an appointment for him to be neutered and chipped, he was ours now and would become part of the family. Before he became a skeeter, we tried calling him different names, but nothing stuck. One afternoon I was watching TV and a boating commercial caught my interest, skeeter bass boats. I screamed, this is what I want, a skeeter! About that time he came and jumped on my lap to share the excitement and I asked if he wanted a skeeter too and his excitement grew! It was like he got it and he was a skeeter from that point on.

Die Routine in Skeeters Haus war seit Tagen, Monaten, Jahren gleich … aber an diesem Tag passierte etwas Unglückliches. Der Wind könnte die Leckerlitüte draußen vom Regal geweht haben, wo sie immer aufbewahrt worden waren. Niemand wird es jemals wirklich wissen.

„Am Muttertag, dem 10. Mai 2015, haben wir unseren Skeeter verloren. Er erstickte an einer Tüte, aber es war keine Chipstüte, es war eine Leckerlitüte. Er versuchte sein Bestes, die Tüte durchzukauen, es war herzzerreißend. Ich arbeite im Tierarztbereich und hatte keine Ahnung, dass dies passieren könnte. Wir fühlen uns so verantwortlich für das, was passiert ist. Und wir sind so am Boden zerstört. Ihn so zu verlieren, wie wir es getan haben, wird niemals verstanden werden. Wir haben ihn und auch einen Teil unseres Herzens an diesem Tag verloren. Es vergeht kein Tag, an dem ich nicht an ihn denke, wie er mit uns anderen alt wird. Das Bild von ihm mit der Tasche auf dem Kopf, während sein lebloser Körper still im Hof ​​lag, wo er voller Leben rannte, war nicht mehr da. Bewusstsein ist für alle erforderlich, nicht nur für Tierbesitzer. Eine einfache Aufsicht, die wir für selbstverständlich hielten, und jetzt leiden alle. Danke für deine Mission und den Kampf für diejenigen, die keine Stimme mehr haben. RIP Skeeter, mein geliebter Junge……….du wirst so geliebt und vermisst!!” – Gemma S.

Teilen Sie Skeeters Geschichte auf Facebook

Gefunden in einem Lebensmittelbehälter aus Plastik – RIP Max

„Ich vermisse ihn so sehr. Er war immer bei mir. Er schlief jede Nacht mit mir und war der Erste, der mich morgens weckte, indem er die Decke von meinem Gesicht zog und mich anstarrte. Das war, als er es nicht war Er riss Dinge von meiner Kommode herunter, um mich aufzuwecken, begrüßte mich, wenn ich nach Hause kam, war immer auf meinem Schoß, wenn ich mich hinsetzte, knetete meinen Bauch und musste auf meinen Schultern liegen, wenn ich mir die Zähne putzte selten von meiner Seite gewichen, er war mein Ältester und Liebling und ich werde ihn nie vergessen.

Ich möchte, dass sich jeder der Gefahren von Tierfutterbehältern aus Kunststoff bewusst ist. Max, so schlau wie er war, öffnete den Behälter, in dem ich Katzenfutter aufbewahrte, und sprang hinein. Und entweder durch Schwung oder durch eine andere meiner Katzen, die auf den Behälter sprang, schloss sich der Deckel und er erstickte darin. Als er vermisst wurde, dachte ich, er wäre nach draußen gegangen und hätte etwas Katzenfutter für ihn geholt, aber stattdessen fand ich ihn im Container. Ich kann immer noch nicht glauben, dass er weg ist und ich habe immer noch Schlafstörungen. Ich vermisse ihn mehr, als ich sagen kann.” – Darlene D.

Sie dachten nicht, dass Chloe es schaffen würde

„Ich war 1 Stunde weg und kam nach Hause, um meine 5 Pfund schwere Chloe mit einer Tasche (Minzpasteten) über dem Kopf zu finden, die kaum ihre eigene Luft atmete … ohnmächtig wurde. Ich gab CPR und fuhr sie zum nächsten Tierarzt 10 Minuten entfernt. Ihr Kiefer war vor Schock verschlossen, sie lag viele Stunden im Koma und wurde 2 Tage lang in einen Sauerstofftank mit Flüssigkeiten gelegt.

Es war so traumatisierend und ich fühle mich so GESEGNET, sie immer noch bei uns zu haben. Sie ist etwas langsamer und schwächer, aber wenn man bedenkt, dass ich dachte, sie sei tot, als ich sie fand, und die Ärzte anfangs – “wird es wahrscheinlich nicht schaffen und wenn sie es tut, wird sie wahrscheinlich große Probleme haben” (sie dachten, sie hätte die ersten 24 Jahre das Augenlicht verloren Stunden) – sie macht das ERSTAUNLICH!” – Tamera A.

Close Call mit einer Chipstüte für Henri

Mein Hund war ungefähr 8 Monate alt, als ich ihn mit einer Chipstüte auf dem Kopf fand. Ich habe gelacht und sogar ein Foto gemacht! Zum Glück hatte er genug Luft bekommen. Ich hatte jedoch keine Ahnung von der Gefahr und dass er hätte ersticken können! Ich schaudere, wenn ich daran denke, wie anders es hätte kommen können! Ich weiß jetzt, wie gefährlich es ist, und ich warne auch andere Tierhalter! ” – Ruth B.Henri wurde letzten Monat 10 Jahre jung und ist immer noch stark!

“Meine Familie hatte keine Ahnung, dass das passieren könnte.” – RIP Tink

„Wir haben unsere geliebte Tink durch Ersticken verloren. Sie war nur 15 Minuten außer Sichtweite. Wir dachten, sie wäre auf der Couch, da sie sich häufig hinlegte oder mit ihren Spielsachen spielte. Wir waren direkt im Schlafzimmer und sahen zu Show. Ich fragte meinen Mann, wo sie sei, weil ich es seltsam fand, dass wir sie eine Weile nicht gesehen hatten. Er ging hinein, suchte sie und schrie nach mir. Er fand sie mit einer Hundeleckerli-Tasche über dem Kopf. Alle Leckereien waren weg. Wir versuchten es 10 Minuten lang mit HLW und baten und flehten sie an, zu uns zurückzukommen. Wir verstanden später, dass sie weg war, bevor wir sie fanden, und wir konnten nichts tun. Ich habe so viel Schuldgefühle und Verwirrung, seit dies passiert ist “Tink war ein glückliches, gesundes Mädchen. Sie war ein so großer Teil unserer Familie und unser Zuhause scheint jetzt leer zu sein. Unsere anderen beiden Hunde sind ohne Tink verloren gegangen und haben sich sehr seltsam und traurig verhalten. Meine Familie hatte keine Ahnung, dass dies passieren könnte.” happen. Wir dachten immer, wir wären alle sicher in unserem Haus. Unsere Familie ist am Boden zerstört und in ständiger Not Trauer seit diesem tragischen Ereignis. Vielen Dank für Ihre Website und dafür, dass Sie Tinkys Geschichte teilen, um zu verhindern, dass diese Qual einer anderen Familie widerfährt.” – Kimberly B.

Caring for a precious newborn kitten can be a rewarding experience, but it can also be heartbreaking when a kitten experiences Fading Kitten Syndrome.

Fading kitten syndrome refers to a kitten’s failure to thrive between birth and weaning from its mother or from a bottle for hand-fed kittens. This period lasts about four to five weeks (when a kitten is at its most susceptible to disease).

Unfortunately, fatal kitten syndrome is usually fatal, but if you catch the warning signs early, your vet can step in.

As 2016 begins, my greatest wish is that we don’t have to raise abandoned babies this year. As much as I love these tiny bundles of joy, I can never give them what their mother can, no human substitute can… and babies belong with their mothers if at all possible. There were numerous pitches thrown last year that shouldn’t have been thrown… by well meaning people but interfering too soon…

Before picking up a litter of “abandoned” kittens, please make sure that the kittens have actually been abandoned.

how do you say it

If you find a lone kitten wandering alone or a litter that has been disposed of in a box or bag, you should rescue them immediately. You were probably abandoned by an unscrupulous and heartless person. In such cases, they are in dire need of care, including keeping them warm and feeding them kitten food, NOT cow’s milk! Goat’s milk can be used for a short time in a pinch, it doesn’t provide all the nutrients the kittens need, but it doesn’t cause diarrhea or dehydrate them like cow’s milk. Please contact your veterinarian or us for help or instructions on hand raising kittens.

If you find a litter of kittens together in a nest:..

The mother cat may be looking for food or may have been put off by your presence and will hide nearby while waiting for you to leave. She will be VERY upset if you take her kittens and unfortunately your attempt to ‘save’ her could actually be a death sentence as, despite our best efforts, typically 15% to 20% of life is lost in hand-reared kittens.

Clean kittens that sleep well are unlikely to be abandoned. If the kittens are not in immediate danger, wait and watch them from afar for an hour or two. You can put them in a small box with a soda bottle or something similar full of hot water if you’re worried about them getting cold. A mother cat will NOT “repel” kittens that have been touched by humans.

You can try sprinkling flour around the nest and leaving the area completely for a while. Look for paw prints in the flour when you come back. If there are signs that the mom cat has returned but is scared of you and running away, she is likely feral, which means she was born outdoors and has never been around people and should stay outside with her kittens.

You should give her as much space as possible and not disturb her. You can set up some sort of shelter nearby in the hopes she could use it, and of course she’ll appreciate a constant source of food and water. Nursing mothers need a lot of extra calories, so it’s best to feed kittens dry food whenever possible.

Kittens should only be removed from their nest if there is no evidence of a mother cat after several hours or if the kittens appear to be in imminent danger or distress.

Please contact us when the kittens start feeding on their own at 6 to 8 weeks of age so that the mother cat is caught, spayed and returned to her babies or you will have another litter within a few months and if you If you have unsterilized pets, please have a hen spayed and become part of the solution…not part of the problem.

If you are interested in becoming a foster parent please contact us with your name and phone number or alternatively apply here… it’s hard work, long hours but incredibly rewarding.

Female cats have a well-earned reputation for being maternal animals. When a cat gives birth to her litter, she takes good care of her kittens. This can make it seem strange when a cat moves her kittens around the house.

Cats move their kittens for protection, warmth, and safety. Sometimes a cat will move her kittens when she needs a break. Make sure they are in a warm place and not exposed to excessive light or noise.

Pay attention to how your cat behaves after birth. Maternal instincts dictate that she will be more nervous than normal and won’t want you to touch her kittens. Monitor the mother and her kittens from a safe distance to ensure everyone is safe and healthy.

Is it normal for cats to move their kittens?

Some of a new mom’s habits may seem confusing, especially the so-called “2 week move”. Rest assured, this behavior is perfectly normal in cats and is rarely a cause for concern.

Most queens start moving their kittens by 2 weeks of age. Note the time frame as most cats will not exercise their kittens for the first 14 days of life.

Kittens depend on their mother for the first 2 weeks of their lives. As newborns, kittens are blind and deaf as they cannot open their eyes and ears. A mother will know this and keep the kittens close.

If the mother is comfortable in her environment, she will not move her kittens for the first 2 weeks. Only after that do the kittens show some awareness. By 14 days of age, kittens can often see and hear themselves. Ergo, the queen feels a little more comfortable moving her young.

Why do mother cats move their kittens?

“Why does my cat keep moving her kittens?” is a common question from owners. Unless you are a professional cat breeder, you may not have observed this behavior before. Fortunately, this is not a problem. Still, it’s a good idea to learn why your cat feels the need to exercise her kittens.

privacy

One of the main reasons a cat relocates its kittens is for privacy. Your cat is unlikely to welcome the prospect of feeding her young in front of her human family. She will find another place.

Your cat may be hiding from her kittens’ father. According to the biology of reproduction, it takes at least 6 weeks for a queen to come back into heat after giving birth. An intact tom does not require such recovery time, which can lead to conflict.

Excessive stimulation

Kittens can be blind and deaf for the first 2 weeks of their lives, but this doesn’t last. As soon as your kittens open their eyes and ears, they are under an assault on their senses. Her mother will try to protect her from it.

If an area where a cat and her kittens live is too bright, the kittens will likely move. All cats dislike bright lighting and see better in dark surroundings, but kittens are particularly susceptible.

Noise is also an issue. Avoid leaving the cat and kittens near a TV or stereo. Also think of walls. If the cats are near noisy neighbors or windows that let in a lot of noise from the street, it can worry the kittens.

Dirty or polluted area

Cats become more and more picky about their surroundings after birth. If their territory is dusty, dirty, or filthy, they will hastily retreat and settle elsewhere.

warmth

Kittens need to have a warmer body temperature than adult cats. Because of this, kittens often snuggle up together or gain warmth from their mother. This is especially important for newborns.

If a cat feels that her kittens are not warm enough, she will seek a new territory for them. Kittens need an ambient temperature of around 80 degrees. That might seem warm, but you can also reduce it by about five degrees as you age.

security

Life can be scary for a cat, and that goes double for kittens. Adult cats’ conventional predators, like coyotes, make short work of a kitten. Your cat will do anything to protect her kittens.

Your cat will also protect her kittens from you, whether you know it or not. Perhaps more importantly, the kittens are protected from jealous rivals. Other cats in the home, including the kittens’ father, may respond poorly to new attention-stealing animals. Alternatively, a male cat may try to play a little rougher than kittens can tolerate.

Until the other cats in your household become accustomed to these new arrivals, the kittens must be kept safe. When it comes to getting the kittens out of the way, so be it.

education

Kittens take the lead from their mothers in all walks of life. Your cat will take her responsibilities seriously to teach life lessons. Once the kittens are old enough, she will teach them to hunt, use the litter box, and find food or water.

Of course, this includes leaving the nest box. While your kittens will usually follow your cat, she may initially move them. Don’t panic about it. It is an indispensable part of kittens learning the independence they need when moving to new homes.

How far do cats move their kittens?

Cats often have trouble finding the right balance when it comes to moving their kittens around. On the one hand, cats want to create a safe distance between their place of birth and potential predators. On the other hand, your cat prefers to stay in familiar territory.

A cat will rarely attempt to take her kittens outside. The kittens often end up on the same floor of the house as your cat’s nest box. Check these sites first, as well as other places your cat frequents.

My mother cat takes her kittens to unsafe places

As long as the place is safe, it doesn’t matter where your cat leaves her kittens. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Some cats can leave their kittens in dangerous places. This isn’t an act of malice – just a bad decision by your tired pet.

Be careful where your cat leaves her kittens. In their search for somewhere warm and quiet, kittens may end up in a washing machine or somewhere equally unsafe.

If you find your kittens in an inappropriate place, kill them. Your cat will eventually realize why you are doing this. However, avoid touching the kittens. Wrap them in a blanket before uprooting and moving them.

Why is my cat separating her kittens?

Most of the time, a cat moving her kittens is a package deal. Your cat will move her entire litter at once. If you’re wondering why your cat keeps moving one of her kittens and not the others, it’s probably bad news for the kitten.

Most litters feature a midget – the smallest and weakest member of the family. After a copious birth, this dwarf can be excluded from feeding and classes. Often this results in the kitten dying without outside intervention.

That sounds cruel, especially from an animal as maternal as a cat. How could a mother let her baby die? For the cat, this is a sacrifice for the greater good. A cat can only feed so many kittens, and more emphasis is placed on those most likely to survive.

If you intervene quickly, you can save the little one of a litter. Take this kitten to a veterinarian and make sure they are getting adequate warmth and food. This will keep the kitten alive, at least for a while.

Kitten isolation is not always due to Darwinism. A kitten may be separated from a group because it is aggressive or carries a potentially contagious disease. However, the result remains the same. In the absence of food and warmth, you need to save the kitten immediately.

Why does my cat keep bringing me her kittens?

Queens don’t just drop their kittens in unusual places away from human interaction. You may wonder, “Why does my cat keep bringing her kittens to my bed?” after seeing a whimpering litter on your pillow. Your cat may even drop kittens at your feet.

In this case, the cat asks for a break. While queens are effortlessly maternal, there are still limits to their patience and tolerance. Take the cat that brings you her kittens as a compliment. She says: “I trust you as a parent. Take care of her for me.”

As long as two weeks have passed and the kittens are aware of the world around them, this isn’t a big problem. You can not allow the kittens to be separated from their mother for a long time. Pretty soon they have to feed.

Your cat will usually retrieve her kittens soon. Maybe she needed a nap or a hunt. Alternatively, she may have needed a break from feeding. Kittens, after all, are almost permanently attached to their mother’s nipples.

The latter should be kept in mind. Look out for bruised, discolored mammary glands or open sores. According to the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, these symptoms suggest a case of mastitis or an abscess.

This condition makes it painful for the queen to pump milk and difficult for her kittens to feed it. Your cat needs treatment and the kittens need bottle feeding.

My cat took away her kittens and can’t find them

Your cat can occasionally lose her kittens. Human mothers often refer to “baby brains,” and cats are no different. Constantly feeding kittens, as well as lack of sleep, can make a queen feel a little scratchy.

When your cat can’t find her kittens, she becomes restless. Help her reunite with the kittens as soon as possible. The longer the kittens are alone, the greater the danger to them. Kittens can be up to all sorts of mischief and will soon need to be fed.

Don’t automatically assume your cat has lost her kittens when she’s verbalizing and alone. As developmental psychobiology explains, cat mothers use their voice to create appreciation in their babies.

Your cat may simply be teaching her kittens how to find her if they are separated in the future. Alternatively, this can all be part of a game. Watch from afar for a few minutes. You’ll soon be able to tell if your cat is upset.

How to stop a cat from moving her kittens

As natural as it may be for a mother to exercise her kittens, you may be reluctant to encourage this behavior. Let’s be clear – you probably won’t be able to stop this completely. It is not even advisable to try. However, you can minimize the disruption.

Knowing what to do if your cat is constantly moving her kittens is a crucial part of raising a litter. Take appropriate measures to ensure the queen and her young are comfortable. There are three main steps to achieve this:

Avoid handling kittens

Unless absolutely necessary, do everything possible to avoid handling kittens for the first 2 weeks of their lives. Kittens are so vulnerable at this age that your cat will do anything to protect them.

First of all, you could accidentally hurt the kittens. Even if you’re not, you’re probably scaring the animals to death. They cannot see you, hear you, or recognize your smell. Handling removes them from their heat and food source.

You must also accept that your cat may not trust your intentions. All a cat cares about is protecting its young. It doesn’t matter how well you treat them. She can assume that you intend something undesirable. As a result, she will bite and scratch to discourage the approach.

The more you handle kittens at this crucial early stage of development, the stronger your scent will be. Such a smell will not escape your cat, so she will consider it necessary to hide her babies. Avoid that impression.

Keep the territory clean, warm and calm

As previously mentioned, your cat likes to keep her kittens calm, still, and clean. It’s a balancing act. If you groom too much, you will be considered a territorial invader. Ignore it and the cat will leave its territory.

The best time to act is to wait for your cat to move her kittens. While the area is clear, remove anything uncomfortable like dirt. Cats and kittens still want familiar scents, so swap out one used blanket for another.

Get a thermometer for the wall. If the ambient temperature around your cat and kitten nest falls below 80 degrees on a regular basis, see if that coincides with a move. If this is the case, find a safe way to provide some extra warmth – either heaters or blankets.

Monitor mother and kitten health

Keep a close eye on how your cat and her kittens look, act and feel. The healthier the animals are, the more they stick together.

You know how your cat usually behaves and you have an idea if something is wrong. Expect a little quirkiness – she just gave birth – but nothing out of the ordinary.

Supervise the kittens. These should be taken to a veterinarian for a check-up at around 3 weeks of age. Watch out for warning signs of health problems beforehand. Healthy kittens meet the following criteria:

healthy weight. If you can see a kitten’s ribs, it is underweight

Light eyes, without discharge

Soft nose that is not runny, caked or dry

clean ears

No salivating or scratching at the mouth

Good quality fur with no bald spots or sores

Your kittens should begin to grow in playfulness, curiosity, and verbalization. There can be a problem if the kittens are quiet and withdrawn, hiding from contact.

Cats moving their kittens is normal behavior. If she relocates her entire litter and continues to tend to her needs, there is no need to worry.

Your cat has had a pregnancy and has given birth to her kittens. Now it’s time for her to take care of her kittens but for some reason she can’t breastfeed them. Perhaps she has abandoned one or more of her kittens, or you are just not sure if she is getting enough milk. In most cases, mother cats give birth to kittens and care for them with little or no human intervention. However, there are times when human intervention may be needed to support the kittens. What should a concerned cat owner do?

Why a mother cat can’t breastfeed her kittens

There are several possible scenarios for a mother cat not being able to adequately nurse her kittens. In some cases, the mother cat will start breastfeeding and then stop. Or the mother cat may not even start nursing. The mother cat may reject some or all of the kittens. Not only can she refuse to nurse a kitten; she may ignore them altogether or act aggressively when approached by a kitten. Sometimes the problem isn’t with the mother cat, but with a specific kitten or kittens. Kittens that are smaller or have other medical problems may have more trouble latching and getting enough milk from nursing. These problems can be exacerbated in particularly large litters of kittens when there is more competition for time and space to nurse.

If something like this happens, the first thing you should do is contact your veterinarian. You may need to take the mother and kittens for an exam, but this can be stressful for a new mother, so it may be best to contact your vet first and see what they recommend. If you can find the reason a mother cat is unable to feed her kitten, you may have a better chance of getting her to successfully breastfeed. Or you may have to step in and take care of the kittens yourself. In any case, your vet can help.

Tip Depending on your vet’s recommendations, you may need to take the mother and all of her kittens to the vet, regardless of which appear sick or not.

disease in the mother cat

If the mother cat has a health problem, she may not be able to breastfeed her kittens. In some cases, she doesn’t produce enough milk for her kittens. Or a problem like mastitis can affect their ability to breastfeed. Dehydration and malnutrition also affect the milk supply. It is important to ensure pregnant and lactating cats have access to high quality, nutritious cat food at all times. Especially when nursing newborn kittens, mother cats often won’t even get up, let alone leave the kittens alone, so they need to be able to stay hydrated and eat without leaving the nursing area. Any health issues that are making your cat uncomfortable can result in her not being able to breastfeed her kittens. Additionally, mother cats who are feeling very stressed or insecure may have difficulty breastfeeding because they are focused on guarding their kittens. It’s important to ensure that new moms and their litters have a warm, private, and quiet place to connect. This could be as simple as a large box with soft, clean bedding and easy access to food and water. The kittens should be handled minimally as being out of sight can be very stressful for the mother. Even if the mother cat appears healthy, it’s best to consult your veterinarian if she appears to be having trouble nursing, or if kittens seem particularly weak, are slowly gaining weight, or if they urinate and defecate infrequently.

Sick or deformed kittens

The mother cat may recognize or suspect a health problem in one or more kittens and refuse to nurse that individual. She may retrieve the sick kitten from the nest box in an instinctive attempt to protect the other kittens. The problem can be an obvious congenital abnormality, or a serious illness, or something more subtle. Replacing a rejected kitten in the nest box is unlikely to be successful and may add additional stress to the mother. Instead, contact your veterinarian to learn how to properly bottle feed and keep the rejected kitten warm while making arrangements to have the kitten checked out by your vet.

Big litter of kittens

Some litters may be so large that the mother does not have enough teats to feed all of her kittens at once. She also cannot produce enough milk to feed everyone. The larger, stronger kittens may overtake the smaller ones and/or the mother may reject sick or weak kittens. In this case, the best option would be to bottle-feed any kittens that appear small, breastfeed less frequently, or become separated from the rest of the litter. Keep them warm and contact your vet immediately.

Immature mother cat

Very young cats may lack the energy reserves to produce enough milk if they are very thin and/or still growing. A female cat can get pregnant as young as four months old. In most cases, young cats face greater challenges when it comes to maintaining their own health while caring for a litter of kittens. If you have a young cat who has kittens that are not nursing well or are gaining weight, you need to step in and help. Take them to the vet for a check-up and talk to your vet about how best to help the mother and kittens.

How to bottle feed kittens

If the mother cat is unable to feed one or more of the newborn kittens at all, it is important to see a veterinarian as soon as possible. In the meantime, you’ll need to find a way to feed the kittens, as they’ll need to eat at the exact frequency every few hours depending on their age. This is usually done through kitten bottle feeding. It is also important to provide maternal care to newborn kittens. Keep them warm and help them urinate and defecate after each feeding.

The most commonly available type of kitten food is called KMR, which stands for Kitten Milk Replacement. KMR is available in cans or boxes and can be purchased at most pet stores and on websites that sell pet supplies. Other brands of kitten food are also available.

Warning Cow’s milk or human infant formulas are nutritionally unsuitable for kittens and will cause serious health problems and death if fed to newborn kittens.

You can use a small kitten bottle to give the kittens the formula. Kittens should be bottle fed while lying on their stomachs, not their backs. Newborn kittens need to be bottle fed about every two hours. Gently warm the formula and feed approximately 3-5ml (up to 1 teaspoon) per kitten per feeding. Most kittens will stop suckling when they are full. So if a kitten detaches from the bottle, it is most likely full. Also, you should stop feeding if you notice formula coming out of your nose or if you feel your tummy is bloated. Consult your vet for proper feeding amounts as kittens grow, as their needs change quickly. In addition, it is very important to monitor the weight of kittens, so they should be weighed daily using a gram scale.

If your cat is expecting kittens, it’s a good idea to have some kitten food on hand in case the mother has trouble breastfeeding. If you don’t end up needing to bottle feed, you can always use it later to moisten the kitten food as the kittens begin to adjust to solid food. Or you can donate the kitten food to a cat shelter or rescue group.

What to do after visiting the vet

Once you’ve visited your vet and determined that continuous bottle feeding is necessary, it’s important to plan ahead for the coming weeks. Kittens should be easily distinguishable from one another so you can keep track of exactly which kittens have been fed, how much they are eating, as well as monitor their weight and other signs of illness. The easiest way is to put collars on them to tell them apart. Be sure to use collars that are small enough not to interfere with breastfeeding or mobility, and ensure a snug fit so small paws cannot get stuck in them. Kittens should be bottle fed cat milk for at least the first four weeks of their lives. You can begin introducing canned food to kittens around three weeks of age in addition to bottle feeding and once the kitten is eating on its own, gradually begin reducing the amount of milk you are offering.

Remember that your veterinarian is the best source of information when it comes to kitten care. Ask your veterinarian for information on how much and how often to feed, how to help kittens urinate and defecate, and how to keep them clean and warm.

Reasons Why Mother Cats Eat Their Babies: Why do mother cats sometimes eat their kittens? Why does a mother cat eat her babies? Birth is a miracle, but are you ready for what comes after? Queens are mother cats, and most females have a natural instinct to love and nurture their babies.

According to the Reference Website, sometimes a mother cat does the complete opposite. She might eat one or more of her kittens. That doesn’t make her any less of a mother, and it doesn’t make her a bad mother.

Is it normal for mom cats to eat their kittens?

Yes, this is normal behavior. Some cats will eat a kitten. Others consume all their waste.

Science remains uncertain as to why a cat, or any other species, is doing what we consider barbaric. This video offers some hypotheses that researchers believe might explain the behavior.

Remember that it does not affect you as the owner. You cannot stop or always control nature. However, you can try to understand the reason behind it and take some measures to prevent it.

Prevention is no guarantee. Success largely depends on why your mother cat is eating her kittens.

5 reasons why mother cats eat their babies

Born dead

birth defect

Merciful

threatened

malnourished

1. Stillborn kittens

While it can be barbaric to watch, eating her stillborn kittens comes almost naturally to your mother cat. It provides her with nutrients, which she passes on to the surviving kittens via her milk.

2. Birth defects

If you remember the video we shared, you will remember that sometimes mothers eat their babies. Cats are no different.

Keep in mind that not all mothers will consume their kittens with birth defects. Some will choose to ignore them, meaning they won’t let them feed. When she does, you can remove the kitten and hand-feed her.

3. Mercy

Merciful causes are the easiest to prevent. Mother cats will eat her kittens when she believes they are threatened by predators. Make sure your cat has a safe area for her birth while kittens still need her for survival.

Another side of mercy is that she will make sure she can produce enough milk for her litter. Your cat has a built-in instinct, much like the hamsters in the video.

If her litter is too large, she may eat a few kittens to ensure she can provide enough milk for the rest.

4. Threatened

Limit access to other animals, including other pets your mother cat may already be familiar with. Also, she may see other people as a threat.

Once the kittens are of weaning age, you can usually introduce them to other pets and other people. Do this gradually so as not to overwhelm or endanger the kittens.

5. Malnourished

We are more likely to see this in stray cats than domestic cats who are fed a balanced diet before, during and after pregnancy.

Pregnant cats require more nutrients, much like humans. According to Hill’s Pet, you should feed kitten food from pregnancy until she has weaned her kittens.

If your cat is fussy and refuses kitten food, talk to your vet about increasing their fat, protein, and calorie intake.

If you are caring for a feral queen, you can supplement her hunting to ensure she has access to a balanced diet until her kittens are weaned. Approach their nest with caution. Leave the food where you know she will find it.

Once the kittens are weaned, you should consider capturing and spaying or spaying them and their litter.

Other mom cat behaviors that are completely normal

relocation of their kittens

rejection

Ignores kittens

aggression

She moves kittens

Your mother cat may move her kittens frequently. This can be a sign that she doesn’t feel safe in her current area.

What we see as a threat may be different from your cat’s perspective. Pay attention to their cues and make adjustments as needed.

She rejects her kittens

Some mothers reject their litter. Others will reject one or a few of their kittens. It can occur in new and experienced mothers.

Veterinarians believe that a few factors can lead to this behavior, such as: B. Lots of human contact with kittens and birth defects.

Limit your interaction with your kittens until they are at least four weeks old unless their life is in danger.

She ignores her kittens

Ignoring kittens is not the same as rejecting them. She could sit on it. She may not allow them to feed themselves. Generally, this reaction is aimed at those around them or the people in them, including you.

Keep children away. Remove other pets from the room; do not allow them free access to their area. Limit human interaction to one or two people.

She is aggressive towards you or others

Aggression can occur for a number of reasons, but the most likely culprit is a threat she perceives. She might hiss, growl, or attack other animals and people who approach her kittens.

Do your best to watch from afar. Only intervene if mom or her babies need urgent help.

Postpartum medical concerns in mother cats

Feline hypocalcemia

endometritis or metritis

mastitis

milk fever

Attached fetal membrane

According to VCA Hospitals, most conditions require a veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment. Otherwise, death can result.

Signs and treatment of feline hypocalcaemia

Feline hypocalcemia is a condition that causes low calcium levels in cats. It can occur after birth and requires veterinary diagnosis and immediate intervention.

Symptoms of hypocalcemia are few in the early stages, and your vet will generally detect the low levels with a routine blood test. The good news is that this is a rare condition in lactating cats.

Signs and treatment of endometritis and metritis

Endometritis and metritis can occur up to three days after delivery. Both are types of uterine infections.

Symptoms to look out for include fever, lethargy, ignoring kittens, increased thirst, and a putrid vaginal discharge. She will need emergency veterinary care.

Signs and treatment of mastitis

Mastitis is an inflamed mammary gland. It can occur with or without an existing infection, but the condition is painful for your cat.

You can take care of an uninfected gland at home by applying heat and massaging to extract the milk. This generally clears the condition and your cat resumes normal grooming.

How can you tell the difference between infected and uninfected mastitis? Look at the teat discharge and the teat itself.

If the teat appears purple or deep red, it is infected.

If the discharge has a thick, green-yellow consistency, it’s infected.

If your cat has a fever, is lethargic, screams in pain, and is not eating, then she is infected.

If you notice any signs of infection, you should seek medical attention immediately.

Do not try to drain the abscess at home.

Signs and treatment of milk fever or eclampsia

Three to five weeks after birth, your cat may develop milk fever. The calcium level in their blood drops. The symptoms appear as an advanced form of hypocalcemia. Both conditions are fatal if left untreated.

Remove kittens and seek help immediately if the mother:

pants heavy

has tremors

Seems restless

Cramps occur

She falls into a coma

Cats with large litters are the most vulnerable. She may need injections for life and it may be wise to remove her from breeding. Most cats who have milk fever develop it again.

Attached are signs and treatment of the fetal membrane

Sometimes your cat will keep the placenta from one or more of her kittens. This occurs after her birthing process is over, but you may not notice the signs for hours afterward.

Symptoms range from cat discomfort to green vaginal discharge and fever, according to PetMD. If your mom’s cat is showing these signs, take her to the vet. She may need further tests and antibiotics.

What behaviors should be a cause for concern?

During the first three weeks, your queen will usually develop postpartum problems. Every mother is different, so keep an eye on her and her kittens.

When it comes to kittens, pay special attention to those who sleep more than usual. It could be a sign of fading kitten syndrome.

Vets are unsure of the exact cause, but these kittens need immediate medical attention.

Caring for newborn kittens that your mother cat cannot care for

Without a surrogate mother, you assume responsibility and take the place of the queen until the kittens are able to eat and clean up litter on their own.

This video shows how to safely feed newborn kittens when their mother is unable to care for them.

What you need:

There’s no harm in having these supplies on hand before your pregnant cat gives birth.

Final thoughts on cats eating their kittens

While a bit barbaric, eating one or more of her kittens is normal behavior for your mother cat. She can do this for many reasons, ranging from grace to malnutrition.

You can’t always stop them, and you shouldn’t stop them or scold them. She has instincts you don’t have, including knowing how many kittens she can breastfeed.

Cats can exhibit other odd behaviors. Be aware and respond accordingly. There are only so many ways your cat can communicate her grief.

From pregnancy to weaning, provide your mother cat with plenty of rest, quality kitten food, and water. Only intervene if necessary for a kitten or the mother’s survival.

Welcoming new kittens is both mentally and physically taxing for your cat mom. Imagine giving birth to four or more babies every time you get pregnant – they go through a lot! Most cat moms are doting and always on guard to protect their kittens. But if you’ve noticed your cat mom becoming distant, you might be wondering what’s going on.

Don’t worry! Cats have great instincts and in most cases it’s easy to explain. Let’s take a look at the reasons a mother might abandon her babies—both on a small scale and for long periods of time.

7 reasons why cat moms abandon their kittens

Cats can breed anytime of the year when the time is right, but spring is usually the peak season. Pregnancy lasts 2 months, approximately between 60 and 70 days. Once the mom cat has given birth, she will be busy resting, cleaning and caring for her kittens for a while.

But you may have noticed that she is leaving her babies longer than you may think is normal. As kittens get older they become more independent, that’s usually standard – but what are some other reasons?

1. Breastfeeding or afterbirth disorders

If the mother cat is not well, she could easily distance herself from her kittens. There are a few problems that can arise during or shortly after childbirth.

mastitis

After birth, your cat’s body immediately begins to produce food for her kittens. While this process is mostly seamless, like anything else, it can lead to complications. Mastitis is an infection that can spread from the teat to the mammary gland.

Symptoms of Mastitis: Swelling or discoloration of the nipple

swelling or discoloration of the nipple lethargy

Lethargy Shows visible discomfort

It’s not uncommon for a mother cat to part with her kittens, especially when she’s in pain.

Stuck kitten or placenta

If a mother cat is unable to care for her kittens for the first few hours after birth, pay attention to visual cues. A kitten could become stuck in the birth canal, which can be fatal to both the mother and the kitten being housed. It could also be that the afterbirth didn’t come out.

Signs of a stuck kitten or afterbirth: Shortness of breath

Labored breathing Ignores live kittens

Live kittens ignore lethargy

lethargy inability to eat

Inability to eat Visible discomfort

eclampsia

If your cat’s diet is severely low in calcium, they may develop a problem called eclampsia. This condition usually occurs when all of the mother’s calcium intake is being given to developing kittens, resulting in a major lack of self-sufficiency. It typically develops 1-4 weeks after birth.

Symptoms of Eclampsia: Restlessness

restlessness aggression

aggression fever

fever disorientation

disorientation muscle spasms

muscle cramps spasms

Convulsions cardiac arrhythmia

If you think your cat might abandon her kitten because of a veterinary emergency – don’t wait. These conditions can be life threatening. They need to seek medical help for the mother to keep healthy for her babies.

2. Mother cat is on the hunt

Mom is hungry too. Your body is incredibly fragile right now. After all, she takes care of many babies and her body produces the milk. She needs a balanced meal that is high in protein and moderate in fat to replenish her losses.

It’s not uncommon for a mama to go out, either for a self-guided hunt or just a trip to the food bowl. If you have a cat outdoors, the mother may be trying to find a mouse or small rodent. She will have to teach her children to do the same. This is an expected phenomenon.

Mothers usually go longer when she’s ready to wean her kittens, which happens at 3-4 weeks. The desire to hunt or eat doesn’t mean the mother loses interest in her babies, it just means she has to take care of their needs too.

3. The mother is very young

Female cats can become pregnant as soon as they reach sexual maturity, which is usually around 6 months of age. When you think about it, they are very young and not even fully grown themselves. Accepting a roll can be challenging at this stage.

Even though females can physically carry a litter, sometimes they are not mentally mature enough. Young mothers with underdeveloped maternal instincts may not take optimal care of their kittens. They just haven’t reached the point where these senses kick in – it’s different for every cat.

New mothers may feel they have better things to do than breastfeed babies. If they ignore their kittens or seem too daring, you can always limit their space. Kittens need to get their milk feeds on time – so make sure mommy stays close if she’s not ready herself.

4. Something is wrong with a kitten

If you see your cat picking out a particular kitten, look for signs that something else is wrong. Sometimes when a kitten is sick or deformed, the mother will reject her baby. It may seem like a cruel act, but it’s just the work of nature.

Some mother cats simply know that the kitten will not be viable. Or maybe they have such a large litter that they can’t feed them all. If your cat rejects a kitten, you can try bottle-feeding the animal. You can also take the kitten to your vet for an exam.

If you end up needing to be bottle fed, many major pet stores have kitten food available for purchase. Be sure to read the directions carefully so they’re getting the exact amount of nutrients they need to thrive.

There’s always a chance to save a baby, but don’t be too disappointed if your efforts don’t pay off. Sometimes there’s really nothing you can do — and moms often know best.

5. Mother cat needs a break

If you’re a parent, you probably understand all too well when it comes to needing a break to recharge your batteries. Some mother cats leave their kittens for short periods of time in order to have some alone time. Nursing multiple kittens takes a heavy toll on the mother’s body.

Some mothers will be very loving, patient, and caring with their litter. Other mothers require more space and are further away from their young. Feelings about motherhood can vary drastically from cat to cat.

You really shouldn’t panic if your wife is the paws-off type. As long as she feeds them every one to three hours for the first 3 weeks of her life, you needn’t worry. When mom is comfortable, you can start bonding with the kittens if you feel they aren’t getting enough motherly love.

If your wife needs a breather, just give her time. She will return to the kittens when she knows her kittens need her.

6. Lack of maternal instinct

Like every other mother on this planet, some cats just aren’t made for it. It’s not natural – for them. It’s not uncommon for another female cat to step in when a mother steps down to fill that role. Of course, unless you have multiple females, this isn’t an option – more of a cause for concern.

Sometimes certain women just take a little longer to adjust – so don’t be too concerned if she takes a second to learn the rules. This can be a big step for many first-time mothers, and you can try to intervene if you feel you have to.

A lack of maternal instinct can lead to malnourished kittens, which can have dire consequences. If you can’t get her interested in giving the kittens minimal grooming, you may need to take over feeding them until they’re on solid food.

7. Kittens are becoming more independent

Kittens don’t stay small for very long. Moms know when it’s time to step back and allow their little ones to develop some independence. You can see the mother leaving just a few weeks after the kittens were born. This is perfectly normal and expected behavior.

Your mother cat will know when it’s time to show the kittens around. She might be making longer solo trips at this point, or coming to teach them the ways of the house. With your kittens running around, it’s safe to say she’s giving them what they need at this stage.

As soon as a kitten is 4 weeks old you can start feeding her solid food. Although they won’t be ready to leave their mother for a few more weeks, this is the start of their adult diet. So if she walks around that marker, it’s because she knows the kittens are fine.

Remember, your mother cat has just tirelessly reared a litter—and she’s probably enjoying her long breaks.

Ways to stop moms from abandoning kittens

When it comes to a cat’s reaction to motherhood, it’s hard to know what to expect until the kittens are already here. Some cats can make wonderful pets but terrible mothers. Or vice versa – the mother could be unkind to people but warm to her babies.

Some cats are just more independent and free-spirited. They will take care of their kittens, but only for what they need and no more. You could say they’re a bit stingy with their time. Young mothers may not yet understand the seriousness of motherhood – through no fault of their own.

Measures to encourage bonding between mother cat and kitten: Keep the litter box and food bowl nearby

Keep the litter box and food bowls nearby Make sure the mother is healthy and eating a balanced, high-protein diet

Make sure the mother is healthy and eating a balanced, high-protein diet. Keep the mother cat indoors as much as possible

Keep the mother cat indoors if you can. Make sure the kittens are with the mother at night

Make sure the kittens are with the mother at night. Supplement kitten food as needed

Supplement with kitten food if necessary. Make sure the nest site is noise-free

Make sure the nesting site is noise-free. Do not disturb or touch the kittens or the mother while feeding

If you need help, don’t hesitate to call a veterinarian or a rescue group. Your vet may have some suggestions for you to try. If your mother cat isn’t taking care of her kittens after you’ve tried everything, you should consider having them raised by a professional.

•You might also like: Can Cats Eat Palm Leaves? Is it healthy for you?

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are several reasons a mother might abandon her babies on a regular basis. Some of this is normal, but some requires attention. Kittens’ bodies require constant nutrition for the first few weeks of life. If your mother cat doesn’t feed or groom her properly, it can cause a number of problems for your litter.

Monitor the situation closely. If you have any questions or concerns about the behavior, don’t hesitate to call your veterinarian for more information.

Selected image rights: Naratiwat Pochoom, Shutterstock

It can be exciting to know that your cat is about to have a litter of cute kittens. But after giving birth, there is so much to consider as a cat owner. Some mother cats may start removing their kittens from the nest area and this can happen for a variety of reasons. However, there are a few methods you can use to discourage your mother cat from moving her kittens!

Why do mother cats move their kittens?

While our house cats are now accustomed to a life of comfort and abundance, they still retain ingrained habits from their time as wild animals. Cat moms relocate their kittens for a variety of reasons, including:

The nest area is too noisy.

The nest area is too noisy. The nest area is too bright.

The nest area is too light. A kitten is sick and she removes her from the litter.

A kitten is sick and she removes her from the litter. There are too many human visitors.

There are too many human visitors. She feels threatened.

She feels threatened. The nest area is dirty.

How to stop your cat from moving her kittens

If your cat is relocating with her kittens and the location she has chosen is perfectly appropriate, there are a few things you can do to encourage her to leave the kittens and nest where they are. You may need to use one method or a combination.

1. Touch the kittens as little as possible

While having newborn kittens around the house can be incredibly exciting, resist the urge to pick them up and cuddle them. Your mother cat should take good care of her kittens, and as long as she has a clean nest and access to food, water, and her litter box, she needs minimal supervision.

If many people come to meet the kittens and even pick them up, the mother cat will feel threatened. Her scent may begin to dissipate as the kittens are constantly being touched, making her feel confused. If so, she may decide to move the kittens to a place where she is less likely to be disturbed.

Keep human contact to a minimum until the kittens are at least 4 weeks old and do not allow visitors until they are around 8 weeks old. As the kittens begin to exercise and explore on their own, the mother cat will become more relaxed and accepting of people visiting her babies.

2. Keep the nest area as still as possible

Once you know your cat is expecting kittens, start thinking about possible locations for her nest. Most cats choose a quiet place with little light and not too many people. While your cat will find a place for itself, this may not be a suitable place. You can try to persuade your cat to set up her nest in a location that meets her criteria and allows you to check on her and her kittens from a distance.

If your cat has decided to build its nest in an inappropriate spot but you decide to leave it where it is, keep the area as quiet and quiet as possible. Make sure other pets are kept away from their nest. They can even build a frame or place their nest in a large box. Cover the area with blankets for extra privacy and warmth.

3. Check the health of the mother cat and kittens

Sometimes a mother cat will move an individual kitten when she thinks it might be ill. If you notice your mother cat taking a kitten from the nest instead of trying to move the whole litter, she may have realized something is wrong with that particular kitten.

At this point, it’s a good idea to call your vet and ask for advice. You can do an initial phone consultation or ask to examine the mother cat and kittens in person.

Cat moms can suffer from a variety of health issues, and any one of them can mean she’s decided to relocate her kittens. Mastitis is an infection of the mammary glands and is painful. Your cat may need antibiotics and the kittens may need to be bottle fed while she recovers. Hypocalcemia occurs when mother cats don’t get enough calcium. It can cause wheezing, muscle tremors, staggering, and seizures. Uterine metritis is an infection that causes fever, lethargy, decreased milk production, and a foul-smelling discharge from your cat’s uterus. She needs immediate veterinary care.

4. Make sure the nest is warm

Newborn kittens cannot regulate their own body temperature, so they need help to keep warm for the first few weeks of life. If there is a draft where your mother cat has built her nest, she may decide to move her to a warmer place. Check that doors and windows remain closed. You can even put a thermometer in the room to keep an eye on the temperature.

5. Keep the nest clean

Cats will instinctively want to keep their kittens in a clean place. That’s because strong smells can attract predators in the wild, putting their kittens’ lives in danger. If the nest gets dirty, she may try to move her kittens to a cleaner place.

As part of your daily check, remove any soiled blankets, thoroughly clean the litter box, and make sure spilled food is cleaned up. If the nest and surrounding area are as clean as possible, the mother cat is more likely to stay in the same spot.

Sometimes the only option is to allow a cat to move the nest

If your cat is determined to move her nest, you may not be able to stop her! If she’s decided something is threatening her kittens, she may get stressed if she can’t move them. If you’ve tried all of these methods and she’s still convinced that moving her kittens is the right path, you might just have to accept it.

As long as the new location is not dangerous, you can choose to help her by providing her with new, clean bedding, rearranging her food and water bowls, and even carrying some of her kittens to her new nest.

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Selected image source: Jonas Jovaisis, Pixabay

Cats are usually considered incredibly independent animals, but that doesn’t mean they don’t enjoy being around people and receiving love and affection. Many cat owners often feel that their cats don’t like them, but there are a few things you can do to encourage a better relationship between you and your cat. Our veterinary expert Brian Bourquin suggests learning a little about cat behavior first so you understand why cats do certain things, like staring at you or biting their fingers. Learning about cats will help you behave properly around them. In addition, you should also ensure proper care and attention to keep your kitten happy and healthy. By doing all of these things, your cat will begin to return the love you show her.