Feral mother seems to be attacking home kitten.

lookatmycat

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Hello!

We found a kitten in our garage two months ago, along with her mother. After more than a month of letting the mother take care of her, we decided to take her into our home and give her a better life. It's been a couple weeks now living with her and she's been having tons of fun. We've been taking really good care of her and have her on a raw meat diet already. 

Anyways, we've introduced her to our front and back yards and she loves it out there, but today she had a reunion with the mother and it didn't seem to go so well. We left the door open while we were occupied with work just inside, and we heard a weird meow. Not angry, not sad, maybe somewhere inbetween. Hard to say. So we poked our heads out and saw that the kitten was looking down from the porch at her mother! We watched quietly from inside the door and the mother saw us but didn't run immediately, although she is usually really sketched out by us. She was looking back and forth from us to her baby when she jumped up and swiped a couple times at her. I came out, clapped my hands and scared her away. But she came back and tried it again. So I really scared her away and took the kitten inside.

What is your take on this situation? Was the mother playing? Because the swipe didn't seem all that fierce. Or is there another explanation? We were really confused and disapointed by the mothers behaviour.
 

vball91

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A couple of possibilities come to mind. The mother may be in heat and therefore is acting like that. Secondly, she may not recognize the kitten. I would keep the kitten away from the mother. The mother is feral, and there is little chance of a good relationship developing between them. Also, if you are going to allow the kitten outside, please have her spayed soon.
 

ondine

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Spaying the kitten is important.  Spaying mommy may be more so at this point.  She is probably already pregnant again and swatted at her older child because she's using all her resources for her new brood.  Mommy may literally be pushing the older kitten "out of the nest."

So, trap Mommy and get her spayed ASAP.  She's obviously still hanging around - she's established her territory in your yard.  Trapping her, spaying her and returning her to your yard (known as TNR) will have two results: she'll live a happier, longer life and she will probably keep other cats out of your yard.

If you have not been feeding mommy, don't start (unless she's obviously starving.  Then you need to decide if you'll support her in your yard).  If she's not been starving, either someone else is feeding her or there's enough food for her in your yard.  Even if that is true, she will need shelter and supplemental feeding come winter.

Good luck!
 
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