My mama cat stole the other mama cat's kitten....anyone every heard of this before? what do i do?

Question

i have two mother cats. The first one, Tabby, had kittens about 3 weeks ago. The second, Sweetie, had kittens about a week ago. Tabby had 6 kittens, all of which lived. Sweetie had 5 kittens, of which 3 died. Sweetie has taken one of Tabby's kittens and is nursing it. The two cats are not related, although Sweetie would be the aunt to the kitten she took. (the father is her brother) Tabby really doesn't seem to mind. The cat that Sweetie took was a runt and wasn't getting that much milk. It is getting pretty fat, now, with Sweetie. Has anyone ever heard of this happening? Is it ok to leave the kitten with Sweetie? Or should I put the kitten back with it's mother?

i was looking back..and i should have made this clearer....tabby's babies are by sweetie's brother, seanie.....sweetie's babies are NOT by seanie, but the neighbor's cat. tabby and seanie are unrelated. sorry that i didn't make that clearer.

and yes, i have already called the vet. to have both sweetie and tabby "fixed" after the kittens are weaned.

Answer 1

Cats are wonderful mothers.
Not only will mothers "share" babies (this is VERY common), but mama cats have been known to foster puppies, racoons, all sorts of animals. I saw one mama stealing baby chicks. Not to eat, she curled up around them like she wanted them to nurse.
Leave them be. Sounds like everything worked out well and everyone is benefiting.
SPAY AND NEUTER all of them please. 2 litters of cats can take over before you know it.
Cheers.

Answer 2

I've never actually seen this happen before. I would leave the kitten with Sweetie. She'll be much healthier if she doesn't have to fight five other kittens to get milk. Just keep an eye on the kitten. It sounds like Sweetie has adopted her, but monitor the kitten later on, make sure that one of the mothers is grooming her/teaching her/etc. As long as the kitten is healthy and developing normally, then it doesn't matter who she thinks of as her mother.

Edit: I read some of the other answers, and I don't see where people got the idea that there was inbreeding; I thought you were clear on that. But unless you're a licensed breeder, I would advise that you get the kittens spayed and neutered. We have at least one stray coming and going from our cellar (Our landlord is a jerk and won't fix a broken window down there) and the world doesn't need anymore until we can take care of the poor cats living in shelters. It sounds like you care a lot about them, but who knows what will happen after you give them away. All of my pets are former abandoned pets.

Answer 3

It's simple really...Animals don't understand death really, not like we do. I am sure you removed the dead kittens as soon as they were discovered dead...Maybe mommy didn't yet realize they were "gone", and went looking for them. Since the two cats live in the same house they probably smell alot like each other, and cats can't see colors too well...thus she thinks since her roommate has more kittens than her that well maybe she also thinks that her roomy took her kittens away. Sometimes it is good to leave the dead kitten with the mother for a few hours and let her have time to make sense of why her kitten is not moving or responding...This is not unusual at all actually and since there is not a squabble between the mothers I would suggest that maybe it's best that she has taken the kitten...this way she doesn't know her kittens didn't make it...emotionally it is good for her...and the little runt so, no harm no fowl right?

Answer 4

Some cats will just nurse any babies, i've known cats to raise pups in the absence of the dog. Let her have it if the other Mom cat and the kitten don't mind. It will give Tabby a break as six is a rather big litter. As long as they're all happy and healthy, let them be. Often breeders will take kittens who aren't thriving with their Mom in a big litter and give it to another with a smaller litter, they have a better chance that way and more food for them without taxing their Mom.

Answer 5

maximum cats will circulate their kittens each and every so frequently. it is no longer something to tension approximately--in fact, it is fairly a giggle to observe. whilst my cat had her clutter (and he or she had many) she moved them from my mattress room to the living room. She had 5 infants, yet she could no longer count style and whilst she had all 5 infants in the living room, she'd nevertheless dart to and fro between the two spots. it is in basic terms their way of protecting their youthful--animal instinct. U could attempt taking a container, positioned some comfortable stuff in there like huge products of cotton that covers the completed container. positioned the kittens in the container and positioned the mama in too.

Answer 6

Yes I had a cat with no kittens take all the others brood now I had to take the one with no kittens to a friends house for 6 weeks to keep it from interfering with mama cat It didnt help that the cat with no kitten was alpha cat but if you can seperate them into different rooms and cage them off and yes return the kitten that was stolen to rightful mother it wont wean until the new kittens do and thatll be 3 weeks too late

Answer 7

if nothing is wrong with the stolen kitten leave it alone, the mom cat will just keep stealing. Then do me a HUGE favor. Spay and Nueter all your cats, so it doesnt happen anymore and you have just contributed 9 more cats into the world that will have to fight with millions of other cats for proper homes. Stop letting brother and sister cats breed, this is called Inbreeding and its wrong, do you want to some day have kids with your brother? You are creating inferior bred cats, ones that will pass problems to future generations. STOP that, please I beg you.
CAMC if you read her post she said the 2 females are not related but would be the AUNT to a litter cause the DAD to both was ones brother. SO factually speaking one of those litters of kittens WERE inbred if thats how she left the cats breeding. I am going on the ability of this humans grasp on the english language and her ability to tell me the facts on who was breeding who.

Answer 8

I have heard of this before, I would just leave it. I certainly hope though that since they are inbreeding and kittens are dying you will do the right thing and take them to the vet to get all your animals spayed and neutered. Good luck!!
To the poster below...the father is her brother!!! Maybe I misunderstood but the fact remains kittens died, she needs to get them fixed regardless!!!!

Answer 9

just let them be.Just the fact that the kitten is thriving unlike it was doing with the mother suggest to let it be.Plus if you give it back to the mother she may reject it or even harm it.I have heard of cats doing this before.

Answer 10

leave it be. it is getting pretty healthy,plus it already would have gone back to its real mom by now if it felt uncomfortable.
so dont worry.just shalax.