how long should I wait to hold new kittens?

Question

My cat had 5 baby kittens 3 days ago. How long do I need to wait until I can pet or hold the kittens? The mom is a very friendly cat and is very used to our smell. Also we have a male cat who is fixed and is not the father - how long do we need to keep him seperated from the mother cat and kittens? Thanks for any advice.

Answer 1

Our cat had 4 on friday, and we have been holding them since they were born, they are so cute arent they

Answer 2

You can hold them as soon as they are dry from birth (usually after about a day). For the first 2-3 weeks, don't hold them for more than a few minutes, but hold them often. They need to get used to people.

As far as the male cat, take it slowly. If they're inside, let him just outside the room where the mother and kittens are. Let the mother see him, and see how she reacts. If she's fine, gradually let him closer over the next few days. If she's hostile, give it another week, and try again.

Answer 3

If the tom is not the father, keep him from the kittens until they can look after them selves, as he may kill them...i had kittens a few yrs back n had a male cat who wasnt the father to them n he killed the kittens.
It depends on ur cat really wether she is happy with u haolding the kittens. I held my kittens more or less from birth, even held on as it was born, cuz the mother cat paniced n pushed the kitten away, so i had to get her breathing n out of the bag thing they r born in. As long as she is happy with it u can hold them, but if she is distressed when u approach the kittens, then dont touch them until they r com ing out of the bed.

Answer 4

My cat brought her litter to me before leaving to go off on her own after about 3 hours after giving birth so I guess that if she is comfortable with you then you can do it whenever you like.

Best to handle them in the box or bed where she is so that she's not too concerned and don't lift them from line of sight. Most cats are excellent mothers - strange considering that she'll end up beating them up once the are nearly grown - but you shouldn't do anything to distress her.

As to the boy cat - how is she with him? If they were on friendly terms then perhaps it'll be good to let him in while you are there just make sure they are good but don't deliberately get him intothe room. Leave the door ajar and see what happens.

Just a bit of after kitten care - make sure that the mum has loads of water to drink. The kits will tire her out and make her very thirsty especially if they are hungry. Her teats might get a bit sore, with 5 that's almost certain, so try to avoid picking her up too much.

And I'm not trying to tell you what to do but think about getting her spayed once she's ready. The mum could have kittens again within months and homing them can be difficult. The first set are usually eeasy to rid off but subsequent ones can be difficult. I know this from bitter experience - my cat got pregnant within months of having a litter and it really took it out of her.

Have fun with them though - kittens are great.

Answer 5

You can start holding them as soon as the mother lets them stagger away in that charming new-kitten step! Pet her, too, and take a good look at how all the cats are reacting.

Answer 6

Keep the male away as long as the mother wants him away. Same goes for you you holding the kittens. All of my cats have always let me hold them right away. With in minutes of birth. If you ma'ma cat acts uncomfortable then let them be.

Answer 7

first of all you may wash your palms and then puppy and compliment the momma -- lots. Then use one finger to puppy each and each kitten. If momma is comfortable with that, proceed to talk to her quietly and p.c.. one up gently. puppy it with one finger and confer with it, too. carry it basically for a minute and then positioned it decrease back. puppy and compliment momma. because of the fact the kittens become older you may shop them out somewhat longer. Momma may well be traumatic, yet in many cases if she is unquestionably socialized, she would be in a position to no longer concepts too lots. that's additionally an excellent thank you to verify on the kittens to make sure they're ok, gaining weight and not something incorrect with them. definite, the kittens will squawk, yet that's merely what they do. i could subject in the event that they did no longer. via coping with the kittens early and talking to them they're extra truthfully socialized. Human touch interior the 1st 2 weeks is extreme. One warning: in case you're actually not the customary proprietor of the momma and he or she isn't very conscious of you, she won't choose you to hold the kittens, so the momma cat's proprietor could have initiate you out. The kittens could properly be taken from their momma while they're weaned. initiate giving the kittens dry kitten meals or canned kitten meals at 4 weeks. Weaning could be a sluggish technique so the kittens do no longer shed some pounds. staying power! in many cases via 8 weeks they're weaned and reliably making use of the clutter container. some kittens are somewhat extra reluctant to go away momma and that they could take 10 weeks. many cases the momma weans the kittens herself via getting up and walking away while they like to nurse. have relaxing with the kittens!

Answer 8

if you have a good relationship with the mother you can pet them now and even hold them, but of course use common sense - i wouldn't take them out of her sight or hold them longer than a minute or 2 for now.
i'd keep the male away for another week if it's possible, and then be available when he starts trying to scope them out. the mother will teach him the limits.

Answer 9

Right away is really no prob as long as you don't take them away from mom and she trusts you. If you don't handle them enough in the first 2 weeks they go a bit wild and never grow out of it, we adopted a stray that was only about 3 weeks and she's evil scratchy crazy.

Answer 10

my cat had kittens 4 days ago, and we started touching them last night, just so that they will get used to us. We wouldnt do it if our female cat minded, but she seems fine as she knows and trusts us.