2006-09-21 09:56:32 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
This behavior has been observed in all felines in the wild. It has to do with the male cat wanting kittens to carry his genes, not those of another male cat. I believe it has also been observed in chimpanzees and baboons.
Male lions do this when they take over a pride of lionesses. The lionnesses will come into heat soon after they no longer have kittens to nurse.
2006-09-21 10:02:12 · answer #1 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have had plenty of cats in my lifetime. I now live on a farm and have quite a few cats. Before I get yelled at, they are all spayed now. However the last couple of years when we first moved here they were coming out of the woodwork. I had quite a few kittens born. But, never once did I have a male even act like a threat to any of my kittens.
If a male came around, Mom ususally ran them off. Others acted like they could care less. I thought that it was a myth that they killed or ate newborns, but according to your other answers it does happen.
My thought has always been that cats are sometimes insecure, but all my cats know that they are loved and feel know reason to harm another.
I have had one Mom eat a couple of her kittens. I read that if they do, that the kittens are usually sick and will not survive. She got spayed after her first litter that she ate two.
None of the male cats have ever bothered any of the kittens though.
2006-09-21 17:32:01 · answer #2 · answered by Karen H 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the Mother cats will mate with the males sooner. The Mother cats, when they are nursing, most likely won't mate with the males until the kittens are weened and on their own. We have had that happen with our outside ferals until we got them all fixed.
2006-09-23 06:02:24 · answer #3 · answered by spiritcavegrl 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its called infantcide and is seen in all cat species, esp. lions. it usually occurs when a nomadic male takes over a pride. He will kills all cubs to bring the female back into season again, and therefore be able to bear him his own cubs. Some species of primates also practice this.
xxxx
zoologist and primate keeper
2006-09-21 10:45:18 · answer #4 · answered by Serry's mum 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Either:
1. to kill off kittens with another father; or
2. to kill off young males who might later challenge him for dominance.
It's more of a lion thing I think but there's no reason a cat couldn't, I guess... ?
2006-09-21 10:06:15 · answer #5 · answered by Dubberino 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To kill off any possible intruders of food or mating competition.
2006-09-21 10:03:02 · answer #6 · answered by diaryofamadblackman 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it sometimes has something to do with dominance, but usually, it is so the mother gets-ahem, ready to have more, if ya get my drift.
2006-09-21 10:09:51 · answer #7 · answered by phobic_42 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋