Finally

complexed

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After the long hassle of keeping the male cat away from my pregnant female cat the kittens were finally born :clap: yesterday but I had to lock the male cat back up because he's still being very aggressive...
This is my first time so how long until i can touch the kittens and it be ok with their mother?
 

StefanZ

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You shall be able to touch the kittens already now.  After all, almost all breeders, and most rescuers, do weigh their kittens every day.  Taking at the same occasion a quick look see.

The key is to do it respectfully.   You do it near the nest,  so the mom is seeing everything, and the kittens are still near.

You do it quickly, perhaps half a minute apiece...   Have the scale covered with a cloth, so it isnt cold to the kittens - they will protest if the scale is cold, and mom will react on it...

Similiar procedure when you change the bedding.

But otherwise the weighting, and changing the bed now and then, you dont need to handle the kittens before they are two.three weeks, if everything goes as it shall.

Good you keep the tom isolated as he isnt best her friend.   the mom doesnt need the stress.

(friendly toms may be another question - it is just the risk of new litters, but otherwise they can often be helpsome)

Good luck!
 

shunra

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Is the male cat neutered?  If not get him done ASAP and remember that firstly he can get her pregnant for a few weeks after neutering, and secondly she can come back into call while she is feeding her kittens so keep them apart until both are neutered.

To change the bedding I put all the kittens as quickly as possible onto the new bedding.  Mum usually gets up, but if not I pick her up, and quickly swap new with kittens for old.

I have handled all my kittens from birth, at first very quickly in front of mum just to weigh them.  I use a digital kitchen scale that weighs to 1g, I record the results and I expect each kitten to gain at least 10g most days.  Once their eyes are open and their ears have stood up - once they can see and hear - I start handling a little more, and put them down as soon as they cry.
 

StefanZ

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One thing struck me. As you ask about when you dare to touch the kittens, it may be so the mom is protective?  Home moms usually arent overly protective against their beloved Parent.  Even fostered shy semiferales  usually allow it to their rescuers, if careful and respectful enough.

So why this protection??

I suspect you are smelling the tom, her unfriend....   And moms are VERRY protective against toms they are not entirely sure they are friendly - they arnet not just an unpleasant nuisance, they can be a real danger for her kittens.

So change your clothes and wash your hand when you go from him to them....

And as Shunra wrote, if you arent a breeder, do neuter him asap.
 
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