My cat keeps moving her kittens – why?

My cat Snow keeps carrying her kittens away but she doesn't bring them back, so I always have to go and look for them. I’m really worried that one day she’ll take them and I won’t be able to find them. She just picks them up in her mouth and heads out through the bathroom window.

Hi there, I wanted to ask for some advice. My cat Lila has just had one kitten and she keeps picking it up in her mouth and moving it into the shoe cupboard. Does anyone know why she’s doing this? Any help would be much appreciated!

Hi there, I wanted to ask for some advice. My cat Lila has just had one kitten and she keeps picking it up in her mouth and moving it into the shoe cupboard. Does anyone know why she’s doing this? Any help would be much appreciated!

Thanks everyone for getting back to me. First of all, my cat had kittens yesterday and she's hidden them somewhere outside. Does anyone have any ideas where I might find them? Please let me know as soon as possible!

Hi, I'm in the same boat. My cat Lizie had her five kittens during the night between Saturday and Sunday, so they're only four days old. Since last night, she's been moving them around, especially in the evening. Is this normal? What should I make of it? When I look at her and ask what she’s doing, she comes and nestles between my legs, wants a fuss and meows. I don't know what to do, I'm scared she's going to abandon them or hurt them. I've set them up in a quiet spot under the stairs in a cardboard box with some blankets, her dry food, fresh water and her litter tray nearby. What else can I do?? HELP me lol, I'm a total novice when it comes to kittens.

My cat’s a bit daft—she doesn’t know how to carry her kittens. She keeps trying to pick them up with her paw, I’ve no idea what she’s playing at... Is that normal?

This topic is still very relevant, as my lovely girl has just moved her kittens elsewhere despite the lovely cosy bed I’d made for her. I was quite worried and went looking for answers, and it’s thanks to this thread that I’ve stopped panicking, so thank you. My question is: up to what age might she keep moving her kittens around? Just for info, she’s a cat I found while she was pregnant; she’s had three kittens and will be staying with me for as long as necessary before I have her spayed. The kittens are four days old. Is there a chance she’ll go back to the cosy bed, and should I leave it where it is? Since the spot she’s chosen is on the floor and a bit colder, would it be okay for me to touch her and put a duvet or blanket underneath her and the babies? I’m scared that if I go over there she’ll try to move them again, though she is very close to me and always comes looking for cuddles.

Hi there, I wanted to ask this same question, to see if I could find some more answers... Sorry to jump in, but the original question was: "Since this evening, my cat Cachou has been picking up her kittens in her mouth and moving them as if she’s looking for somewhere else?" Regarding rehoming the kittens, that’s a separate issue and it’s up to her. My cat also had five kittens the night before last, and they’ve all found homes (one for me, one for my parents, and three for very close friends... am I supposed to ask my parents for £45??? lol). When I lived with my parents, we had a cat called Bianca who had a litter of five; we kept one and the others were all rehomed (without any deposit or anything). Later on, her daughter Ewine had five litters and we managed to find homes for all of them too (again, without any money); they’re all doing great, by the way ;) Since then, I’ve moved into my own house and I’ve got two cats (Diesel, who’s no longer with us due to kidney problems, and Léa, who’s just had her litter). My point is, I’m used to this sort of thing, but even so, this morning she picked up a kitten in her mouth and tried to move it elsewhere. I was wondering about it too... My priority wasn’t thinking about asking for £45 from the people taking them, but rather the well-being of my cat and her kittens. Maelys, I think your cat needs to feel that her kittens are safe and away from danger. You shouldn't handle them too much, as they lose their mum's scent (it's so tempting at first because they’re just so cute!). It might be because she’s seeing a lot of strangers, or maybe it's just for comfort. This morning I washed the sheet they were on, and that’s when she started picking them up to move them onto our bedding in the cupboard... Since I gave her the clean sheet back, she hasn’t done it again. I’m not saying I’m an expert, as I think every cat reacts differently, but hopefully that gives you some answers.