My Cat has just had 4 Kittens, i have heard many things about picking kittens up, ie the mother will reject them as their scent is lost, and the mother will eat them as their scent is lost! But i have also heard that you need to handle kittens to socialise them, im unsure what to do, i really want to pick them up but i dont dare they are 2 days old!!!
Pelease help me!
2006-06-15 01:43:44 · 30 answers · asked by katy t 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
Some of these people are the reason that there are so many unsocialized kitten brought into shelters!!!! I am a Vet Tech at a cat shelter. We see kittens come in all the time that are 6-8 weeks and have had almost no human contact, yet they were born to a friendly female in a home with people. They thought the same thing, that they didn't need to handle them or shouldn't handle them until they were 6-8 weeks. By then it is basically to late to have a good and social kitten. It is hard to adopt these kittens out because they are too shy or even hiss and cower in the cage.
You can pick them up when they are born. You should in fact pick them up eveery day and make sure they feel "solid" and not limp like a rag. You also want the belly to look "full". If you have a food scale, you should weigh them each day to make sure they are gaining. With kittens, by the time you notice they do not look good, it is usually too late. Also feel them to make sure no one feels cooler than the others.
As they get older, you handle them more and touch their feet and open their mouths. They can have their nails trimmed at a few days old to make it more comfortable for the mother.
Anyone who thinks that you cannot touch kittens until they are 6-8 weeks has no idea what they are talking about.
I have fostered 67 litters over the years, and have touched them all and handled them from day 1.
Use some common sense though. Always wash your hands first and after. Do not let tons of people come over and handle them. They can get sick if people are carrying viruses on them. Everyone should wash hands first.
Then after they have gone to new homes....PLEASE SPAY your cat!!!!!!!! Besides the many litters I have fostered, I have or have seen TONS of kittens and cats euthanized due to illness, and lack of homes!!!!!!!
2006-06-15 02:06:45 · answer #1 · answered by ARE YOUR NEWFS GELLIN'? 7 · 19⤊ 4⤋
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Can i pick up my new born kittens?
My Cat has just had 4 Kittens, i have heard many things about picking kittens up, ie the mother will reject them as their scent is lost, and the mother will eat them as their scent is lost! But i have also heard that you need to handle kittens to socialise them, im unsure what to do, i really want...
2015-08-07 18:53:15 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
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Don't pick kittens up until they are a week old - especially if its a first time mum cat. She will think that the kittens are your responsibility and she wont look after them properly. I know its hard - but they are cute enough to look at and you will be able to touch them lots when they are bigger - just give them a chance to live!
2016-04-10 02:59:23 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is fine to handle them while they are very young so they will become accustomed to you and people. Even stray mother cats rarely reject their kittens for any reason, so your own cat is not going to reject them because you touch them, but you must be gentle. If you remove the kittens for a long time or something like that, Mama may become uneasy and move them, but she will not abandon them.
Do not wait to hold them until they are several weeks old. Kittens that have been left untouched for even a few days after birth will hiss at you when you pick them up, but they will get used to you, so do not worry. If you are uncomfortable picking them up, then you can always just pet them; that will get them used to being handled.
Good luck!
2006-06-15 02:24:14 · answer #7 · answered by aeiou12 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
My cat just had four kittens six weeks ago and I handled them right after birth. She didn't eat them or abandon them. Pick one up and see how the mother acts when you do, if she's skittish and looking for the kittens then put them back. She will get used to you handling them. Don't be suprised at about two weeks she will move them to a different place in the house, it's just so they can start learning to walk around. Good Luck!!
2006-06-15 01:50:21 · answer #8 · answered by lighthouse_lover92 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Kittens do benefit from human touch and socialization. I think you can lightly pet them within a day or their birth; studies have shown that massaging kittens lightly with your fingers is good for them, as long as their mama doesn't mind. But I wouldn't pick them up until their eyes have opened (a week or 2). Gently petting and softly speaking to them can only help them to get used to and love people.
2006-06-15 03:11:07 · answer #9 · answered by sylviasmith 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have had alot of kittens in my life and one of them just had kittens the other day. I picked them up the next day and they are fine. If the mom knows you, and knows your scent then she knows its not a threat to her kittens. I have had 28 cats in 12 years, (thats how old I am) and I have always held the kittens that day or the day after they were born and they were fine.
2006-06-15 01:59:48 · answer #10 · answered by Kallicat 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋