My cat Spirit just had five kittens and i was just wundering when we can touch them?

Question

By the way this is my cats first litter so do you think she'll feed them?

Answer 1

Most cats are good mothers, so she should feed them well. But here's the thing. Some cats believe that they are really human and don't mind if the others of their "family" are with her and the kittens. For others which are a bit more "stand-offish" you might be viewed as a threat to her kittens. If you touch her kittens too early, and she's not comfortable with you doing that she might do one of two things - she might try to move them (so she feels they are safer) or she might abandon them.
But remember to be gentle and quiet, they are like babies, and need to be treated that way.
Best not to touch the kittens (unless you really have to) until they are around 2 weeks old and have their eyes open. By this time they will be moving around a little, and mother cat's feeding pattern should be well established. Don't touch them while she's feeding them. And don't take them away from her, it could upset her.
By four weeks a little play time isn't a bad thing to help the kittens get used to people too.

Answer 2

I grew up on a farm and we litterally had hundreds of cats over the years. This is a tough question because it really depends on the cat. We had one cat that would let you touch her kittens when they were still wet! TO BE SAFE, (if you touch them too soon she might reject them) wait until they start walking around - by then they will start picking up different smells in their fur and she won't be alarmed if the kittens smell like you. They usually start exploring shortly after their ears open (2 weeks). It is better to play it safer than necessary because this is her first litter and you don't know how she will react. She may be very proud and come to get you to look at her babies, or she might move them if she feels you are pestering her, or growl if you come to close. If she is proud, you might be able to play it a little more by ear. It is important to handle them alot as kitten though because you want them to be nice, friendly cats wether you keep them or not. If they are not handled enough, they becaome a little wild.
As far as her feeding them, I am not sure if you mean nurse them with her milk, or hunt for them when they can eat solid food. I have seen amazing mother cats, who bring home live, wounded animals to teach the kittens to hunt. I have also seen mother cats that don't know what to do and abandon the kittens at birth. If her instincts kicked in, she started nursing them as they were born, the first 2 would have started trying to nurse by the time the 5th was born. If this is the case, she should be fine. If she is an indoor cat, she won't teach them to hunt though because she won't need to. If she DID abandon them at birth you need to speak to a vet immediately. New born kittens need special milk from their mothers and will not live long without her.

Answer 3

Hmm... I bet she will feed them. But with some first time mothers they will not feed them. I guess sometimes it overwhelms them. Anyway yes you can touch them! Please do! But don't really handle them and make sure your hands are clean before and after touching them. At two weeks you can start HOLDING them. the more you hold them, the better companion they will be. Also after the kittens are weened, you should get her spayed... theres these people that come into town every year and they spay for like $15. Safely too.

Also, I have had cats with kittens before... SCENTS DON'T REALLY MATTER TO MOTHER CATS, INSTINCT IS #1! My cats let me pet their babies still in the sac! In fact, they let us dry them off for them! Also, my cat mimi took in orphan kittens that weren't even hers! Scents only effect when the cat is like wild or something. Besides, she lived with you for a while i bet so she would HAVE to trust you with them! Believe me, if you wait until they are old enough to walk, they will be afraid of humans because they haven't had much contact with them! THATS WHY THERE ARE SHELTERS FILLED WITH CATS AND OTHER ANIMALS! Thus making finding homes harder! Also they will only hang out with the other cats instead of you, so handle them and get YOUR scent on them so that they get to know you and get raised knowing what a human is!

Another thing, My other cat Baby, shes like psycho and she had kittens on my lap! Like I said, usually cats would do ANYTHING to keep their babies safe!

Answer 4

If she allows you to touch them then you may touch them, but make sure you wash your hands so they won't get sick. She will feed them milk from her stomache. If you are giving them away, wait 2 months first. They are not ready to leave their mom before 2 months.

Answer 5

If she will allow you to touch them you can touch them. In fact the more you handle them the calmer they will be around people.

Just observe and make sure that she is staying with them and that the kittens are latching on to her nipples..... If they are and their little tummies look full everything will be fine.

It's amazing how animal instinct takes over they just seem to "know" what to do....

Answer 6

my cat had 5 kits too if she allows you to touch them you can touch them at a week old if you have any other questions about them ill be glad to help

Answer 7

you can touch them when the mother says you can (she will let you know when you pick them up if you can hold them...) she'll feed them, unless theres something wrong with them, then she'll push them aside, you might have to take them to the vet to make sure they're Ok.