My cat had a litter of four female kittens a month ago.
She’s taking really good care of them, nursing them, grooming them, etc., but for the last few days the little ones have been getting more adventurous and wandering out of their box.
The mum keeps an eye on them, and when she seems to have had enough of them roaming around, she attacks them quite roughly, to the point where the kittens are squealing quite a bit.
She doesn’t seem to know how to pick them up by the scruff of the neck to bring them back.
Is it normal for her to be so rough? The rest of the time she’s very gentle.
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Hello and thanks for your replies. I’m on holiday at the moment and it’s not easy to get to a computer.
That’s really put my mind at ease because I thought it looked quite violent. As for carrying the kittens, she’s actually never done it; I get the impression she doesn't know how. It isn't a weight issue, because our cat’s mother, who lives nearby, actually snatched her away from us when she was three months old—just after we’d adopted her—by jumping out of a first-floor window.
Regarding cats multiplying, yes, I’m aware of the situation. Grisinette’s first kitten was stillborn, so we decided to let her have one litter before getting her spayed.
Three of the kittens will be rehomed, and the last one will also be spayed and will stay with her mum.
Ah, and I see the kittens are four little females...
4×4(2?) + 2×4(5?) = 16(26?) !!
That’s just a quick bit of maths to show how many kittens you’re likely to have in exactly six months' time... 16 at the minimum and 26 at most, provided the current mum doesn’t have litters of six!
And I’m not just saying this to scare you.
Generally speaking, when the mum does that—if it’s any comfort—there’s no real danger, but it likely means her milk is starting to dry up.
It isn't a problem in itself as the kittens should normally be eating dry and wet food by now anyway.
However, it could also mean she’s back in heat or even pregnant again...
Hi there,
Yes, that's completely normal. Female cats are naturally excellent mums (though sometimes first-time mums can be a bit different). Yours is just raising her little ones, and that can sometimes look a bit rough. She won't hurt them. What’s more, she is teaching them bite and scratch inhibition, which is a vital skill that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. She'll also teach them to be clean (using the litter tray), as the kittens will copy her. The same goes for grooming; a kitten groomed by its mum for 3 months will be a clean cat for life because they learn by imitation.
I hope you aren't planning on rehoming them before they're 3 months old, as this is a vital period for their education by the mother.
Just a heads-up: the mum could go back into heat again very soon.
