Mary Allen
The fact that a pregnant cat is always a reason to rejoice, especially if the little ones were placed in a good home before they were born (something that, by the way, should be achieved to avoid problems later). But sometimes things don’t go the way we expect.
You may have a good delivery, but if you’re not completely comfortable, the worst can happen. So if you’ve ever wondered why the cats are eating their kittens recently, next I’ll tell you about this strange behavior.
Stress
It’s one of the most common causes. People who love cats, especially children, when we see a litter of kittens, we want to touch them, take care of them, be with them… And that’s exactly what the cat does NOT want. She wants to be quiet in her bed and take care of her offspring by herself. is ready for it It doesn’t need humans or other furry animals to be a mother.
It is therefore very important to offer you a safe haven, explain to the family, as in a room where people do not go, that they must respect the cat and its little ones and, above all, keep other animals away from it if there are any.
Born young weak
When a female of any breed eats her sick or weak calf, she does so with good reason: it would not survive in nature, and therefore you will not want to expend energy on caring for it. It’s hard, but that’s the way it is. The cat follows its instincts even if it lives in the best home in the world.
And it is that although humans can save the lives of pelts, which are bad, our dear pelt does not know. So, it is advisable to be aware of the delivery in case there was a baby who was born badly.
Lack of maternal instinct
Sometimes this just happens: the cat has no interest in looking after its young. This can happen if you are a new mom, about to experience heat again, or if you have been feeling stressed during pregnancy and/or childbirth, for example.
Thus, in order to save most kittens, one must observe their behavior with them. If we see that they are in danger, we will separate them from their mother and take care of them (in this article we explain how).
Doesn’t recognize her young
It occurs in cats who have needed a cesarean section, for example. And it so happens that during a natural birth, the body releases oxytocin, a hormone that immediately makes you feel affection for your little one and wants to protect them. But of course this doesn’t always happen after surgery, so there may be times when you see your kittens but don’t recognize them.
For this reason and to reduce the risk of consumption, avoid manipulating them as often as possible since the human smell eliminates that of the cat, making it more difficult to recognize them as his own.
Cat mastitis
La mastitis is a disease that affects the mammary glands of a wide variety of mammals. Causes great pain when they try to suckle, so much so that it can cause the mother to reject her young and even kill them for not feeling it.
If left untreated it is fatal, so it is very, very important to get her to the vet as soon as possible.
Feels threatened
The mother cat may feel threatened by other animals, including pets, which the mother cat was previously comfortable with, but now that she has babies she doesn’t feel as safe. You may also feel that those around you pose a threat.
Once kittens are of weaning age, this is usually the time when they can be introduced to other pets and people. It is necessary to do this gradually so as not to endanger the kittens. But before they’re ready to be weaned, this isn’t a good time to introduce them to you. because if the mother feels threatened, she could end her babies’ lives.
Behaviors that are normal but are warning signs
There are some behaviors in mother cats that, while normal, are signs that something is wrong and that the mother could end her kittens’ lives due to stress or insecurity. In this sense, attention must be paid to their behavior to prevent this from happening.
Move the kittens too much
The mother cat can move her kittens frequently. This can be a sign that you don’t feel safe where it is located. If you find her feeling unsafe, it’s better to provide her with a place where she feels safe, secure with her kittens, and not disturbed by anyone.
Reject kittens
Some mother cats may reject her litter or one of her kittens. Some factors that lead to this can include people touching the kittens too much or that they have a birth defect. With that in mind, it will be necessary to limit interactions with kittens until they are at least four weeks old (unless their life is in danger for some reason).
Ignore her kittens
There may also be times when a mother cat ignores her kittens, and this is not the same as rejecting them. Maybe it feels to them that it doesn’t allow them to feed themselves…this can be a reaction for the environment. With that in mind, it will be necessary to limit human interaction with kittens. and the cat and observe how their behavior develops.
The cat is aggressive
Aggression can occur for a variety of reasons, although the most common is that the cat feels threatened in some way. The cat might growl or attack other animals or people who approach their kittens to protect them. If she sees it’s not possible to protect her or feels the threat is too real, she might eat her litter. That is why it is so important that the cat feels safe at all times. Observing the cat from a distance only bothers them when their babies need emergency care.
What to do if mom eats her kittens
Watching a mother eat her kittens can be pretty scary, but it’s important to stay calm. Avoid overreacting as this will only aggravate the situation. Instead of rejecting the cat, understand why she did it in the first place. Usually, the cat has a reason for it, even if you don’t want to see it.
Understanding what’s going on with the mother and kittens is the first step in dealing with the problem. If you find that one of the kittens is weaker, you must lower the price of the litter to prevent the mother from eating it. You have to feed him and protect him all the time. Remember that if you have to separate the kitten from its mother, you are responsible for the baby until it is able to feed itself.
I hope this article has been of some help to you, but most importantly, don’t see your cat with bad eyesight and don’t reject them. Think that she only acts on instinct, nothing more. Find out why the young are being eaten so you can prevent it from happening again. Anyway, I would like to remind you that if you can not take care of the little ones and try to reduce cat overpopulation, the ideal is to neuter them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do male cats kill their newborns?
That means he has to sire as many litters as possible. Since a female cat can be pregnant by several tomcats, it happens in the wild that a wild cat father kills the kittens that he did not father himself without further ado.
When does a cat eat after birth?
Kittens start eating solid food at three to four weeks. If this works well and the milk production drops, you can also reduce the amount of food for the mother cat again.
Why do cats lay on their babies?
Because cats like to lie down on the nice-smelling children. If the baby bed is already warm and cuddly, a cat can hardly resist lying down next to it. Then there is a risk that your baby may suffocate if he is unable to free himself.
When do cats shed their young?
In most cases, the mom cat will reject one of her babies when there are too many babies in a litter and she is unable to produce enough breast milk. The mother is often overwhelmed with the many babies.
Are cats sad when they are given away?
Dogs are often deeply unhappy when their owner goes out of the house and leaves them alone. Cats don’t care much, according to the popular opinion. A new study confirms that this is not true, at least in the case of individual animals.
Are cats sad when you give them away?
The clingy ones would show joy when they are reunited – but not so the cats. For them, the owner is noticeably less of a fixed reference person than for dogs.
How do cats feel when you hand them over?
Also in the study by Stephanie Schwartz, uncleanliness, excessive meowing and destructive behavior were common signs of separation anxiety in cats. Added to this was the excessive (fur) care, especially in female cats.
How does a cat behave when it’s sad?
Signs that your cat is unhappy include: scratching on door jambs, walls, wallpaper, furniture… urine marking on walls, furniture, on the bed, despite continuing to use the litter box. It strengthens its territory brands.
What is a cat’s greatest token of love?
If your cat is of advanced age, kneading indicates absolute contentment, joy, and a certain amount of adoration for you. This makes the milk kick one of the greatest tokens of love your kitty roommate can give you.
What does it mean if the cat sleeps in the bed with you?
For cats and dogs, sleeping together is a demonstration of trust and belonging. Cats and dogs typically sleep near or in physical contact with the beings they have a strong bond with, whether that be other cats, dogs, or family members.
How do you recognize a cat’s caregiver?
In fact, the majority of cats prefer interacting with a person to eating. If your cat chooses you as her pet, she will begin to bond with you even more by smelling your mouth, jumping on your lap, and sleeping on your head.
What is a token of love from a cat?
Little nose kiss. Head rubbing is a real token of love for cats! The scents that the cat wets us with are called pheromones and are imperceptible to us. But all the more for our velvet paws, because they mean: “We belong together!” This is how your cat shows affection.