Does anyone know at what age a momma cat will start to be mean to her babies & why??

Question

Someone told me that a mother cat cat will start to reject their kittens when they get to a certain age. Is that really true? And why?

Answer 1

I've never seen my momma cats be mean to their babies. They will growl or swat at them when they decide they are too old to be sucking on them.

My kittens are 11 months old. Mom let them suck on her way beyond a normal time period, probably until they were 4 months old. She finally put a stop to it.

She still runs and plays with them. They take turns chasing each other and playing with toys. She is never mean to them.

Answer 2

The kittens will of course have teeth at some point and that can't be the most comfortable thing to endure for very long. It's also not that she's rejecting them, rather they are a little more independant as they get older and require her presence less often. You may see her babies try to nurse only to have their mom get up and walk away. Seems cruel... or does it? Most are weened between 8 and 10 weeks though I have seen quite a few barn cats nurse their babies for longer than some city cats I have known. I have witnessed a momma cat reject a runt in its litter before. He was really small and very weak... my brother successfully rescued him.

It's also normal for momma cats to wrestle with their babies. That usually doesn't happen much before 8 weeks. You might catch the momma sneak attack her unsuspecting baby and watch her roll with him... perhaps biting him on his butt before turning him loose. She's teaching him... waking up his instincts to prowl, to hunt, to be aware... they are just lessons is all. Part of her motherly instincts. Tough love some might say... but necessary for their survival skills. Not all cats get to live indoors and a momma cat seems to know that.

Unless your momma cat is spitting and hissing at her offspring in efforts to prevent them from nursing or keeping her company, then there might not really be to much to worry about.

Did you know that a momma cat can go into heat before her kittens are even 10 weeks old? Yep, she can ween her first litter and be already pregnant with her next by the time the first litter is weened. If in doubt, ask your vet.

Answer 3

When kittens are around six weeks of age the mother cat will wean them from nursing as they are then mature enough to stop nursing and fend for themselves. It isn't mean, it is nature! It is also a good idea to have a female cat spayed, as they can have up to three litters of kittens a year.

Answer 4

We had the momma cat to our 7 month old babies.
She started being VERY aggresive with them at 3 weeks!
I had to seperate them from her and bottle feed them!
The vet said it was probably hormones.
I just think it mostly depends on the cat.

Answer 5

after a few weeks of taking care of her babies, the mother cat will start to let the babies try and take care of themselves and reject them, because the mother wants her babies to be able to survive by themselves.

Answer 6

they are so lovable!!!! they are going to likely nurse for about 6-8 weeks. particularly I particularly have a muddle of three kittens as we talk and they are someplace between 12-13 weeks previous and they are nonetheless nursing. regardless of the truth that, they eat dry food, drink water, and are muddle field experienced. So supply them a minimum of 6 weeks and then they could be waiting. regardless of the truth that in the journey that they are nonetheless nursing you promises them away; in the journey that they can eat cat food. Untill then... have a good time with them they are so lovable and wonderful and that i could only die for them. lol!!! have interesting

Answer 7

At about 12 weeks I think....when she's had enough of them and they are big enough to look after themselves. If you don't want any more babies you ought to start thinking about getting her spayed.