2006-12-29 23:15:14 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
You can touch them as soon as they're born. However most female cats appreciate if you don't mess with their kittens too much until they've opened their eyes and started walking a little bit.
It all depends on what you call touch. Checking to see if they're ok and picking them up for a minute or so to see if they're warm, feel like they're getting their fill of milk and such, is a good thing. Unfortunately to some people "touching" means dragging the newborn kittens out of their nest and wooling them around for an hour or two or three, which is a really lousy idea. When kittens are first born and in the following week they need warmth and quiet and as little stress as possible to get them off to a good start.
2006-12-29 23:28:29 · answer #1 · answered by Redneck Crow 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You should wait about a week and a half before you hold the kittens. You can touch them in a few days. Remember, let the female get used to the kits. Hope this helped!
2016-03-29 00:47:34 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Agree with the definition of touching.
To make sure all are getting enough milk from mum and are healthy and all is fine. So from day one. Just don't pull them off mum if you can help it.
It is important to check them over for any problems and if you do it everyday then you can tell if there is something wrong. This also gets them used to being handled, and socialization is very important. As they get older (when they are mobile and eyes are open) gentle playing and handling gives mum a break. Sort of respite care LOL
Have fun with your little kittens
2006-12-29 23:53:31 · answer #3 · answered by Feline Female 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As long as the mama cat doesn't mind (it is very important that the mama cat doesn't mind..... my mama cat is very attched to me personally so she didn't mind if I touched her kitties), the more you handle kittens the better it is for them socially. All three litters my mamma cat (she's a Russian Blue) had I handle from the get, and the last litter she had, she decided that she was going to have in our bed as my husband was woke up my labor mucus on his leg. The kitten that she had in our bed became very, very attached to us and we ended up keeping him. All of the kittens she ever had never minded being picked up and handled by anyone that came over, and they were easy to give away to good homes because they were used to being handled and held, which makes them more lovable cats.
2006-12-30 07:05:01 · answer #4 · answered by TmB 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the mother cat will let you, you should start touching them within the first day of their birth, and spend time with them each day. They will make better pets that way. As small babies, get them used to you touching/handling their paws, so that when they get a bit older, you can trim their nails.
2006-12-29 23:26:47 · answer #5 · answered by P-nuts and Hair-dos 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You shouldn't touch them before they can independent. (My friend's cat bite it's kitten to death because my friend always take it's kitten to play.)
**I found it in a book
--says that: If you touch the kitten too often, the kitten will have YOUR smell and the cat mother found that the smell is not "her" smell, it will kill the kittens...This happens on hamsters too
2006-12-30 01:39:05 · answer #6 · answered by lonely ariel 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
wait as long as u can dont touch them until they are up and running about but i would find out more about this just to be on the safe side!
2006-12-29 23:24:37 · answer #7 · answered by MICHAEL M 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can touch newborn kittens right away.Wash your hands and be gentle.
2006-12-29 23:23:29 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can pick them up when they are born. You should try and pick them up every day and make sure they arent limp and floppy.
As they get older, you should handle them even more, and trim their nails and such.
2006-12-29 23:22:51 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
When the mother cat allows you.,
2006-12-29 23:51:45 · answer #10 · answered by Bharathi 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋