aggressive Queen

I have a problem I've never encountered before. I have a feral colony and have been fostering mom cats and their kittens for 7 years, both feral and stray. Two weeks ago a volunteer from Kitty Kind brought me a pregnant queen, and later that night she gave birth. The queen let me pet her while the other foster mom was here, but after she left, the queen hissed and didn't want me to touch her. So I left her alone in the spare room where I had set up for her figuring she needed time to calm down.

After she had the kittens that night, she got extremely aggressive, chasing me out of the room the next day and attacking me. I have to feed her by shoving food and water through a crack in the door. To change the litter, my husband and I have to "suit up" in protective gear and he guards the box where she is with the kittens while I change the litter. Even when I open the door to feed her, she runs over hissing.

I've sprayed as much of the walls and floor I can reach with Feliway spray. I keep my own cats and dogs out of the basement when I open the door so she can't see any other animals. I wash my hands before feeding her so she doesn't smell them. And still, two weeks later, she's freaking out on me. Is there anything else I can do? I've mostly let her alone hoping she would realize there's nothing to fear.

Everything I've found says that aggressive queens mellow out as the kittens get older. When exactly does that happen? They're two weeks old now and I can't even get close enough to see how many kittens there are! This is a stray cat that was as affectionate and sweet as they come before she had the kittens. Any suggestions?

thanks,
Susan

From my expirience, when they are pregnant, they are loving... unusually loving. From what it sounds like to me, she is trying to protect her babies. Maybe you could grab her by the scruff, so that you can get a hold on her, and stroke her, and see if that calms her down some. Just so she knows that she can be loved. Also, maybe you can call the foster mom... since she took so well to her, and get her down there.

some mothers are extremely protective. i'd give it time

its hard as you care for her so much but to the queen your still a stranger and she has to protect her babies.

just think how much upheaveal and change shes been trhough, no wonder shes a bit wary of you.

have you tried playing classical music or using a flower remedy in her food/water o calm her (ask a vet if this is safe for a nursing queen).

maybe leave a tv or a radio on in the room so she gets used to the sound of human voices.

if you want her to become less scared of you why not put an old sweaty t-shirt of yours loaded with your scent in her bedding or under her food bowl. she'll become used to your smell and think of you as less of a threat.

Actually this is pretty typical of feral females recently giving birth and being in a strange house. What I have had to do in the past to protect myself (don't laugh) is I take a very large piece of cardboard- and I mean large. I poke two hole in it, and run duct tape through the holes. You take strips of duct tape and roll them together to make a long snake. Use this as a handle for the "sheild." Wear two pairs of pants, heavy socks, heavy shoes, two long sleeved shirts and a cap. When mom launches at you- deflect her with the shield. It doesn't hurt her, and she will usually bounce off it. Then kneel down, do not make eye contact. Just sit there quietly. Hide behind the shield when she attacks and she will attack.

I also make a special cheat pole, using an old wooden broomstick, a big stuffed glove and duct tape- i make an extension arm. I use that to pull out feed bowls, change water bowls, grab litter pans and over time to even pet the feral female and her kittens. Eventually she comes to accept my being there. It takes time, and she is normal full protect mode. Sounds like this may not be her first litter. I find that the ferals who get their kittens taken away early by well-meaning human rescuers act this way during the second and even third litter. They will be danged if you are going to mess with their babies.

You can email me for more tips- and under NO circumstances do you touch her kittens right now. That will come later- she will put you in the ER in you try. And under NO circumstances grab at her and scruff her. Unless you like high doctor's bills!

Originally Posted by maverick_kitten

if you want her to become less scared of you why not put an old sweaty t-shirt of yours loaded with your scent in her bedding or under her food bowl. she'll become used to your smell and think of you as less of a threat.

Click to expand...

Good idea!

is she feral or a stray?

if she's a true feral she wouldnt trust you at the best of times let alone now she has to be on her guard. with a stray you might have a better chance