handling the kitties

My cat had her babies on June 24, and I was wondering if it is ok to pick them up and cuddle them? I've been petting them and Emma doesnt have a problem with me touching her babies. I was just wondering.

take your cue from the mother but watch yourself in case she strikes un-expectedly.

The more you interact with them the friendlier and better tempered they will be.

I picked mine up and held him from about one week on. Gayef and Wellingtoncats gave me some really good advice so you could try pming them for help.

It should not be a problem at this stage. Mama will watch you closely though and some mothers are more protective than others but most mama cats are very choosy about just who they let near their babies. But she is your "baby" right? I am sure she won't mind.

I once read that some mother cats come to view their human as another feline in the colony - you know how some female cats in colonies help to care for each other's kittens - and I have observed this myself when I was younger and we took in a stray who was pregnant. As the kittens aged to about 8 weeks, she would happily even drop them in my lap - as if to say, "I need a kittensitter for awhile and you have been nominated", lol

These babies are still young but it is also good for them to become accustomed to human voices and touch and to becoming socialized. There is a lot of good info in www.kittenrescue.org or www.kitten-rescue.com (Or is the other way around, lol?

Good luck!

As someone who breeds cats and desires for the kittens to be thoroughly well-socialized before going to their new homes, I handle the kittens from the moment they are born. I put them on my chest so they can feel the vibrations of my heart, I blow (gently) into their little faces so they get my scent and I kiss and cuddle them VERY frequently. In fact, one of my all time favorite things to do is to flip 'em over and place big, wet smooches on their little bellies! Of course, I wait til the umbilical stump falls off. *grin* As a result, just about anyone can take up one of my babies and play them like fine violins. LOL I think the more they are touched, the better they are with people.

However, that now all being said, if Momma gets skittish when you hold or handle the kittens, let her sweat it out for as long as you can without Momma cat totally freaking out about it. But then put the kitten down and let her inspect it to allow her the comfort of knowing you didn't harm it in any way.

I've read somewhere that kittens brains develop more if you handle them say about 40minutes per day (from newborn to 5-6 weeks old)

I can honestly say that I am able to handle our kittens right now and they will be a week tomorrow. From the moment she pushed the first one out I have handled them. She wanted nothing to do with the first one until I opened the sac and warmed it up, she watched me do that. I put her into her nesting box and she delivered the rest of them just fine. BUT she is constantly looking for me for comfort. She lets me hold them but will not let anyone else. I know my sweetie loves me. Also one of their eyes opened last night..SO SWEET!!!

I've been a little hands-off with my Emma's kittens (who are 3 weeks old)....letting her "do her job" but I was handling them for a few minutes at least once or twice a day, not wanting to upset her or cause her to "abandon" them. Now, I discover that my 10 year old son (who is cat crazy!) has been cuddling with them in MY BED while he watches TV or plays video games! I found him today reading a book in my bed with all three kittens sleeping on his chest. Miss Emma apparently has decided he's an OK kitten-sitter!