Can a captive animal that was bottle fed as a baby, be a mother? or will it not know how because it didn't learn from its mother? OR will its natural instincts kick in and it will just know how?
2007-04-06 06:30:49 · 19 answers · asked by Katie Z 3 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Animals, unlike humans, have natural instincts that aren't changed by the experiences as an infant. Take a cow for instance. As a calf there generally taken from the mother and bottle fed. When they mature and have calves of there own, they still have the instinct to let it suck and to clean it etc. The only concern you should have is later on in its life if its still in captivity. Depending on the animal some need to be taught to hunt if you've hand fed it all its life.
2007-04-06 06:36:05 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its natural instincts will kick in. An animal does not 'learn' how to look after its young from its mother, so even if it was not brought up naturally it will still know what to do. I do find that cats that were brought up by humans tend to be spoilt little rats tho!
Chalice
2007-04-06 06:41:50 · answer #2 · answered by Chalice 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What kind of animal? Can you be sure it is not SICK?
It needs to be seen by a professional if you want it to grown and survive and learn how a member of its own species should act.
If it's a squirrel or another form of wildlife it needs to be taken to a Wildlife Rehabilitator who knows EXACTLY what to feed it, or it may die from malnutrition even though it is getting fed by you.
Its natural instincts will NOT kick in .
And in many states, owning wildlife is against Federal and/or State Law.
2007-04-06 06:34:50 · answer #3 · answered by aattura 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mother Nature has provided us all with instincts that kick in even when our earliest memories are not of our natural parents. Animals will always know how to mother their young, even if they are not good at it. (There are bad mothers no matter which species you are looking at) They will know how to catch food, although in some circumstances animals have gained new knowledge for doing so resulting directly from human contact or intervention.
2007-04-06 06:34:52 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Some animals have a natural motherly instinct. Others do not. It doesn't rely on whether or not they were raised by their mother or a human.
2007-04-06 06:36:09 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It should be fine. See my cat Ruby was taken away from her mother when she was only 4 weeks old. She is now pregnant and is just fine. She catches mice and birds. There may be side effects though, see Ruby always licks my soft pillow. The vet said it is just a way she is responding to not being with her mother when she was young.
2007-04-06 06:39:56 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
this really has no affect on instincts thats why they are called instincts. if this is a wild animal i suggest you turn it over to a rescue it will have a better chance with them of being able to live in the wild again.
2007-04-06 06:35:15 · answer #7 · answered by The Vet Tech 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My first cat was only 4 weeks old when i got her and she was bottle fed, and now she is very aggressive towards anyone but my dad. Supposedly when they are bottle fed, they become aggressive because their mom didnt have time to socialize them to humans.
2007-04-06 06:37:00 · answer #8 · answered by Heather B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no, it wouldn't affect the animal, its natural instincts will eventually kick in.
2007-04-06 06:35:17 · answer #9 · answered by Jakari B 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
animals alway have their instincts in them. They may like easier life but they know how to take care of themselves.
2007-04-06 06:35:08 · answer #10 · answered by masterzuaba 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋