Ive been told that if you touch a cats kittens to much after they have been born, that the cat with eat them. Is this true or wot. because ive got kids that cant help but touch things. I dont want to come down one morning and the kittens have gone. Is this true or fasle!!!
2007-04-11 13:54:54 · 24 answers · asked by KELLY M 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
While its true that a cat will eat the still-born kittens to provide more nutrition for the live ones and to keep the nesting area clean, they do not usually eat them for any other reason, unless the mother is mentally too young to realize what has happened or is disturbed.
However, a mother cat MAY reject and abandon her kittens if they are messed with or touched too much too soon. The best thing you can do for the family is provide a quiet dark warm place away from activity where the mama cat can feel her family is safe. You should have the area lined with towels and change the towels twice a day. Once the kittens are about 3-4 weeks old you can play with them, but until then, try to keep them quiet and away from too much human interferance.
2007-04-11 14:02:57 · answer #1 · answered by MM 2 · 5⤊ 0⤋
No she won't. Cats sometimes eat any stillborn kittens, that's a natural thing to ensure she can feed the live ones.
Occasionally mothers will abandon kittens if they're handled too much, because her scent is covered up and she doesn't recognise them as hers, but if yours is happy to let you near you should be okay. She more than likely knows the kids' scents anyway and isn't too worried.
The best thing for all concerned is to give her peace and quiet and let her get on with it; I'm sure the kids will understand if you tell them that mummy needs privacy to look after her kittens well. Perhaps you can make it a routine for all of you to go and visit mum & family at set times, then you can be there to make sure the youngsters don't get overexcited.
We used to do that, only "visiting" from time to time to make sure everything was okay and that mother had plenty of food and water, and to speak softly and reassuringly to her. Eventually, when she deemed the time was right, she brought them out to show us, on HER terms.
2007-04-12 05:21:50 · answer #2 · answered by champer 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
touching them won't cause them to kill it. But I would leave them alone for the first few days. Then touch very briefly.
A cat will kill their own kitten if their milk doesn't come right or the kitten is sick or dying. This is actually humane.
But remember, the relationship between a mother and her kittens is fragile at the beginning. Wait at least 3 days before touching only for a moment.
2007-04-11 21:19:34 · answer #3 · answered by moondrop000 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In the 18+ year of been involved in breeding/raising/showing Persian I have never seen it. Yes sometimes first time moms when cleaning and eating the placenta (yes they eat it) will get confused on where it ends and kitten begins, I myself have never witnessed this but have heard about.
I am assuming your kitty is your family kitty and not a stray and is well adabted to yours and childrens scent and will not mistake them for threatening smells.
I have also for about the last 8 years been working with a colony of ferals and prior to finally being about to get them all spayed/neutered I was able to handle their kittens from birth with no signs of aggression from mom towards them.
I wouldn't recommend over handling them, but I would also suggest a few times a day you do check them, make sure all are nursing properly and make sure she is assisting in their bathroom functions. Kittens can not urinate or defecate without moms help. But you can help in that area also by taking a soft tissue and gently rubbing the uretha/anal area.
Hope this helps
2007-04-11 21:36:29 · answer #4 · answered by Kelly B 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Never heard of cats eating their kittens although I have heard that cats will abandon kittens that have handled too much so tell the kids to leave them alone.
2007-04-11 22:12:16 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
its true ive seen it happen you must try and leave them alone for a few days but a cat will eat her young for many reasons she may have too many there could be something wrong with it meaning it could be dying anyway, dnt worry your self because if your cat does eat any of its young it will not be your fault and there is not really anything you can do about it
2007-04-14 16:32:01 · answer #6 · answered by kaye j 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
give them privacy for the first couple of week and dont handle them too much, not only will they get infections u may be carrying extremely easily but if they are handled too much the mother may reject them in effect killing the kitten cos it wont get fed! but no the mother will not eat a live kitten! just please let them have there privacy, u may find if the mother gets annoyed she will move them around the house to try and keep them away from prying kiddies!
2007-04-11 21:03:31 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Only if there dead at birth. You should leave the kittens alone with the mother as long as possible and it will be ok. Handling the kittens will not effect the mother scent.
2007-04-11 21:00:12 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
if you touch the kittens too much ushaully the mother of them will not care, but on the other hand the cats can kill there own kittens the same thing w/rabbits and other rodents.
2007-04-11 21:04:28 · answer #9 · answered by lillian p 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Never heard or experienced that, in all my life of owning cats. I know birds and rodents tend to, but not domestic moggies, simply because your own smell is on them all the time anyway. Maybe it applies to wild cats.
2007-04-11 21:04:03 · answer #10 · answered by Kikkaz 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋