Alpha mom taking beta mom's kittens! What?

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bikemechanic

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I've got 2 moms this month. Alpha mom had kittens 8 days ago. Beta mom had kittens 1 day ago. Whenever I leave them alone, alpha mom takes beta's kittens to her kitten nest. Beta mom does not protest. I take them back to beta mom, who is doing a good job with them. 

There's no chance that alpha mom can actually nurse all the kittens, since the new ones are 1/2 the size of the week old ones. 

Anyone seen this behavior before? And any solutions to getting alpha mom to leave the other kittens alone?
 
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bikemechanic

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4 each. They are all spoken for. 
 
talkingpeanut

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Is there any way to separate the two litters for now? 8 is definitely too many for alpha to take care of, and beta babies need colostrum from beta mom.

It's not uncommon to see co-parenting when the kittens are a bit older.

Are you fostering these ladies?
 
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Sarthur2

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This is not uncommon. The best way to cope with it is to put each mom and her litter in separate rooms for now. The newborns especially need mom's colostrum right now. Perhaps you can put them back together when they are 3 and 4 weeks old. It will matter less if they co-parent at that point.
 
kittens mom

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bikemechanic said:
 
I've got 2 moms this month. Alpha mom had kittens 8 days ago. Beta mom had kittens 1 day ago. Whenever I leave them alone, alpha mom takes beta's kittens to her kitten nest. Beta mom does not protest. I take them back to beta mom, who is doing a good job with them. 

There's no chance that alpha mom can actually nurse all the kittens, since the new ones are 1/2 the size of the week old ones. 

Anyone seen this behavior before? And any solutions to getting alpha mom to leave the other kittens alone?
Click to expand...
Please check out the thread This Poor Cat. Lots of excellent advise after Naomi had her kittens.
 
krissy marissy

krissy marissy

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You really should give each mom their own room for now. Those little ones need their mommy and they can't fight for food with the bigger kittens. Like Sarthur2 said, in several weeks they can all be together.
 
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bikemechanic

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I've got them in separate rooms. I just hate to keep beta mom cooped in her room, as it's pretty small. 
 
Sarthur2

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You can let her out into other parts of the house for a bit every day, when the kittens are sleeping. [emoji]128522[/emoji]
 
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