My cat is just in the process of having kittens. she's had 5 so far. Is it o.k for myself or my Partner to handle the kittens when shes finally finished to move them a little basket. Someone told me if I do that then my cat may reject them
2006-07-09 07:02:14 · 22 answers · asked by Loady 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
You can move them.. just pick them up with a hand towel.. I have moved kittens with my bare hands before and they were fine.. but using a hand towel will take any possibility of upsetting the mother.
2006-07-09 07:05:48 · answer #1 · answered by CG234 4 · 14⤊ 0⤋
kjaymckinnon,
That wasn't very nice or helpful.
Your cat shouldn't reject the kittens. I've helped my cat deliver kittens before. She may move the kittens again. Just be sure to be the basket in a safe out-of-the way place that's she's familiar with or she'll move them. Mommy cats have their own ideas about a safe place anyway. Good Luck!
2006-07-09 07:14:40 · answer #2 · answered by wastingtime 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can move the kittens as soon as she is done cleaning them and lets you get close. You may be better off if you bring the basket to where she had them and leave them there for a little bit rather than moving them to a different area or room. The mother may even prefer a basket because it will keep them all together and make it easier for her to count them and make sure they are all there when she comes back from dinner or a potty break.
2006-07-09 07:11:04 · answer #3 · answered by TheGuru 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thats an old wives tale. You have to handle them anyway to check that they havent got hare lips, cleft palettes or hernias.
If your cat shows any signs of distress at having you there or handling the kittens you'll notice unless you are very thick skinned. Wash your hands with your normal soap, go quietly and coo and fuss over them; she'll understand that.
Feral cats raise their kittens in communal nests, they feed each others kittens and the scent is no problem because you are not strangers.
And don't take any more advice from whoever told you that; just get a book.
2006-07-09 07:08:36 · answer #4 · answered by sarah c 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is best to leave the kittens and mother alone for a while, maybe the night as long as they are in an okay place. In the wild if you touch babies the mother doesnt recognize the scent and may reject them, but your cat knows your smell, so that is less likely, however, it is best to leave them be for a little while so they can get settled. You shouldnt start handling babies for at least a week, or at least as little as possible.
2006-07-09 07:34:25 · answer #5 · answered by lita k 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would clean up the mess of the towels that were used. Give her some time to rest and get used to the kittens. You can move them with her by every step of the way and she should be fine. She should not reject the kittens unless she suspects something is wrong. If for any reason she does abandon the kittens, you can buy food and droppers and feed them yourself.
Good Luck
Feline Lover
2006-07-09 07:09:47 · answer #6 · answered by cyn6998769 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can move them . . . but she may move them again if she doesn't like where you've put 'em :^). Touching the kittens will not make the mother reject them.
PS . . . have her spayed (unless she is a valuable breeding queen) by the time the kittens are 6 weeks old . . . she will come back into heat then . . . and believe me, there are enough kittens in the world already.
--former animal shelter vet that witnessed too many healthy kittens' and puppies' deaths because there aren't enough homes for them all :(.
2006-07-09 07:05:52 · answer #7 · answered by agilecollie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know cats & dogs are different, but when my dog had puppies, I picked her up & put her in the basket I'd got for the puppies, she got out & I put her back a few times. In the end, she picked the puppies up herself & put them in the basket. I didn't want to touch the puppies myself because all new mums are very protective of their new babies wether animal or human & I didn't want to risk her biting me. My mums friend had a cat with kittens, you should see the scar on her leg for just standing near the litter of kittens. It's best that you don't touch the kittens yet unless absolutely necessary.
2006-07-09 07:15:13 · answer #8 · answered by stumpymosha 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well my cat just had four kittens.We handle them all of the time and she doesnt seem to mind.I personally think it depends on the mother.If she is extremely protective and this is her first litter then you should probably leave her and the kittens where they are, at least for a bit or she'll hide them around the house.If she is more of a mellow cat and is more trusting of you, then you shouldnt have a problem.
2006-07-09 07:09:06 · answer #9 · answered by cherwiley 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It really depends on your cat. I usually handle the kittens just after they are born with no problems. If your cat feels safe around you, she should be okay. But she might also just move them to another location. I don't think that she will reject them though
2006-07-09 07:07:18 · answer #10 · answered by Just Me 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi. When my cat had her kittens we didn't really touch them to much for a couple of days so she could get used to them if we did have to handle them we were as quick as possible. Have fun kittens are so cute!!
2006-07-09 07:30:29 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋