Mother cat is acting very odd.

kuroari

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Sep 5, 2013
Messages
1
Purraise
0
Hello there! Having grown up on a farm, I've grown up with plenty of cats and have seen a wide range of behaviour. With at least four to eight cats having litters a year, cats having litters is something I'm very used to.

However, I recently moved and took one of my indoor cats with me. She managed to sneak out and get pregnant a few months back, and earlier today she had her kittens. She had them in a nice, dark, quiet place, and I put an old towel down for her and everything. She has five kittens, all seemingly healthy, and everything was going well.

...Until I got home from work. Ever since I got home, she's following me into every room and meowing constantly -- she's normally quiet, unless she's hungry. She's normally rather un-affectionate (I normally can't even pet her, just her personality), but now she's rubbing up against me, trying to get me to pay attention to her. If I enter the room where her kittens are, she growls at me, runs to her litter, and then growls at THEM (but otherwise treats them kindly and lays beside them). Sometimes while I'm in this room she'll sit in the middle of it, meowing at me, then if one of the kittens mews, she looks to their spot and starts growling. 

But, worst of all, if I'm in a room separate from where her kittens are for more than a couple minutes, she tries moving her kittens to the room I'm in. Specifically, right in front of me. 

I've never seen behaviour like this in a cat and I can't determine why she's doing it. It is her first litter, and it is her first day with her litter. Is this normal? Will she calm down? I can't be in that room all day and all night, nor do I even want to try.

Any help and advice is greatly appreciated! 
 
Last edited:

maewkaew

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 22, 2010
Messages
1,821
Purraise
155
Location
Chicago, Illinois, USA
 Well I can at least assure you that it's not the first time a queen has had similar behavior.    Sometimes a new cat mom can just get very "needy" and doesn't want her favourite human out of her sight.      Usually if they are going to be like that,    they are also like that during the birth.   But I guess not always.  

  It may just be she doesn't feel very certain about this whole motherhood thing yet and needs reassurance.   After all, she didn't read "What to Expect when You're Expecting Kittens".   At least she is taking care of the kittens  and seems to be a caring mother, but right now she is just a nervous and confused mother.  

  I wonder if something happened to scare her while you were gone?   for example if she saw or heard  a cat outside that she feared would come hurt the kittens.  

She seems to think she needs your help or the kittens need your help / protection.   

Her growling at the kittens when they mew may be that she is telling the kitten to be quiet  because she thinks it is dangerous for the kitten to make its presence known.    That's how I read it anyway.

  Anyway,    I would guess this probably won't last for weeks.    Of course nobody can predict what  one individual cat will do!    But probably she will gain confidence as she goes along   as long as she and the kittens are kept safe, and are not bothered by other pets or small kids or a lot of activity 

For now,  I would humor her.   Try to spend as much time with her in the "nursery" as possible.   Hopefully it's in your bedroom.  Otherwise you could move them into your bedroom. 

 I would definitely keep her and the kittens in one room with the door closed in a way she cannot get out and move them all over.   and keep out other pets,  don't allow   kids to come bother her or try to touch the kittens.  

  Provide a couple alternative nest options  -- you don't have to get elaborate.   just like a big box with the top partly covered by a blanket or towel  ( to make a "cave")  ,  set up in a corner away from the door & not right under a window,     or in the closet with the door open.   

But block off places that you would not be able to see / reach to make sure they are OK  ( like under the bed) 

If there's a window in the "nursery" room,  and there's something outside that might scare her if she sees,   cover the window, or at least the bottom  part.  

You could try playing some calm classical music.    And a Feliway diffusor can't hurt.  

Can you or someone else she loves stay with her tomorrow and over the weekend ?   I think it would be a good idea if she continues being stressed out.   
 

StefanZ

Advisor
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Sep 18, 2005
Messages
25,997
Purraise
10,644
Location
Sweden
I agree with Maews analysis and advices.

Good luck!

Welcome to our Forums!
 
Top