Kitten nest smell

Is it true that a mother cat won't recognize her kittens once they lose their nest smell? If the kitten (say 7 weeks old) has been away from the mom cat for 2 days, will the mom cat recognize her baby if reunited?

kells321 said:

Is it true that a mother cat won't recognize her kittens once they lose their nest smell? If the kitten (say 7 weeks old) has been away from the mom cat for 2 days, will the mom cat recognize her baby if reunited?

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Oh yes, usually she will.   Unless she was in the middle of the process of rejecting him, she will welcome back her kitten, at least after a while.

There are known examples, cats whom were to the vet, and come back with vets smells on them, are  put into "the cold box" a couple of days, till the vet smell disapperar.

ps.   Im not really sure what you ask about, because kittens of 7 weeks are seldom still in the nest.

but the question is often recurring with small kittens of a few day, who ARE in the nest.   The answer is essentielly the same.  Mom will typically recognize her kitten, and welcome it back.  Cats arent as touchy as rabbits and wild hares...

Of course, being a caretaker of  a mom with newborn kittens, you take some precautions if you must handle the small kittens, for example to weight them.

Clean hands.  Do the weighting near the nest, so the mom sees you and the kitten the whole time, and mom hears the kitten isnt protesting...  You weigh quickly and smartly, and put the kitten back down to mom...

It works even with semiferales, as long as you are respectful and mindful.  Usually.  Some do protest.  

It's a kitten born outside from a feral cat.

kells321 said:

It's a kitten born outside from a feral cat.

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If you do have the kitten home now, its better you keep it and foster it.  That is one of the few exceptions of our rule "minimum 8 weeks, but preferably 12".

The kitten fostered NOW, will be a fully socialized cat with time.  Taken in later on, it will be much more difficult to socialize it completely...  Socialization possible of course, but more difficult, and the cat will prob remain shy to strangers.

So keep it and foster.   But if you cant foster, and he is alone is a small cage, better to let it out to mom.   She will almost surely recognize him and welcome back.

The other exception are sheer emergencies, of course.

I think that's an old wives' tale.  Mom should recognize the kitten readily enough.

You might want to try a slow re-introduction, though, just in case mom isn't sure about the "house" smell on the kitten.

Mother and father cats recognize their offspring, even if they smell a bit differently after a visit to the vet or interaction with humans or other animals. They recognize them even after a few years of separation. When the offspring grow up, they no longer think of them as their "kittens," but they do know and remember each other. I've never heard of a mother cat abandoning her kittens because they've wandered off for a few days or were handled by a human--on the contrary, mother cats will cry and search for their kittens for several days. I don't even think the folklore about birds abandoning their babies if a human touches them is true.

Ok so this kitten was born feral. Took the kitten to someone to take care of it on Wednesday. Mom (feral cat), who I feed, seems so lonely now. I'm just wondering if I should bring the kitten back for her. I think I made the wrong decision finding the kitten a home. If I brought the kitten back, I just want to make sure mom cat won't reject it or the kitten wander off. ???

kells321 said:

Ok so this kitten was born feral. Took the kitten to someone to take care of it on Wednesday. Mom (feral cat), who I feed, seems so lonely now. I'm just wondering if I should bring the kitten back for her. I think I made the wrong decision finding the kitten a home. If I brought the kitten back, I just want to make sure mom cat won't reject it or the kitten wander off. ???

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I thnk you did right to find a home for the kitten!  As long it is a good home, its a blessing for that kitten, and thus, your conscience towards the mom should be clear.

As said, if the adopter is no dedicated person, the time for fostering of a feral born kitten is NOW, not later.

Later on its still possible, but more diffiult - and thus, needs somebody who is dedicated, whom dont get discouraged and tired after a week or in best case, two...

Now its much easier, and yhou dont need to be dedicated in the same way.

Yes, mom is searching and grieving, but I want to think she in her heart and soul understands the kitten is now well off, HER duty is hereby made. 

Cats moms are like human moms, the most important for them is their kittens welfare, not the freedom in itself.

But, as you are so concerned.  If you can help the mom with spaying her, it would be swell, and a great gift to her.

ps.  And if you reuturn the kitten to mom outside?  There will be joy and happiness some time, but soon enough you will have another one homeless semiferale...  One whom you did produced on your own, while you had every chance in the world to give it a home.   

Sorry to be this blunt, but so it is.

I've had mom cat fixed. She is just so lonely I feel bad. She looks at me through the window meowing for attention now. At first I thought she was out of food, but she had plenty of food when I went back outside and checked. She just wanted attention.

Can you bring her in?

No, I can't bring her inside.

I suppose she'll settle down in a few days then. Moms do miss their babies but they do get over it too.

You did the right thing in giving her baby a home and fixing mom.

Thanks for caring for her!

Is it true that a mother cat won't recognize her kittens once they are taken away somewhere else and lose their nest smell? If the kitten was 7 weeks old when taken away from the mom cat and its been 10 days, will the mom cat recognize her baby if reunited? Mom cat seems so lonely and I feel really bad. I'm debating whether or not to bring the kitten back to her.

If she doesn't recognize the kitten you can do introductions.

K kells321

In looking at your other thread, this mom cat lives outside and you say you cannot bring her in, so no, do not bring her baby back who already has a real home!

I answered on your other thread that she will eventually forget about her kitten, and her kitten is far better off with a home. Thank you for getting the mom spayed.

She sounds like she really just wants to be in your house! What is the reason why you cannot bring her in?

@sarthur2 I already saw your opinion before. I posted again to get other user opinions.

I don't see anything wrong with me possibly bringing her baby back when I will be feeding them and providing them outside shelter!

I agree with @sarthur2.  Taking the kitten from an indoor home to put her outside isn't in the best interest of the kitten. 

Can you find another outdoor cat from a rescue to take in and keep your cat company?