How often should mom be away from newborn kittens?

I've read mixed things on how often the mother should be leaving a kitten when it's first born. It seems like the mother is spending about half her time sitting outside the box away from the kitten (the one that was born just over 24 hrs ago).
The kitten seems healthy, but I was under the impression that the mother would stay in the nesting area with the kitten for the entire time for about 3 days except to eat or use the litter box. Our cat is constantly out of the box away from the kitten, although the kitten seems to just sleep a lot, and we rarely hear it cry. It's belly is round, so it seems healthy enough I guess.
How often have your cats left the kittens within 1-2 days of the kittens being born?

Lexus leaves the babies right much, but if one of them so much as whimpers, she is right back to them. Newborns eat and sleep -- they really don't do much else. I would say that unless the baby is fussy and crying a lot, it isn't a worry.

Some mothers are different. I have had a cat that stayed with her kittens constantly the first day or two and I have had others that act as your does, staying close but not always in the nesting area.

I agree that as long as the kitten seems warm and comfy and she is feeding her on a regular basis then I would not worry.

Originally Posted by zookeeper

I've read mixed things on how often the mother should be leaving a kitten when it's first born. It seems like the mother is spending about half her time sitting outside the box away from the kitten (the one that was born just over 24 hrs ago).
The kitten seems healthy, but I was under the impression that the mother would stay in the nesting area with the kitten for the entire time for about 3 days except to eat or use the litter box. Our cat is constantly out of the box away from the kitten, although the kitten seems to just sleep a lot, and we rarely hear it cry. It's belly is round, so it seems healthy enough I guess.
How often have your cats left the kittens within 1-2 days of the kittens being born?

Click to expand...

Veruca was out of her nesting area frequently just hours after hers were born. She always goes to them if they cry. She even knows when it's time for them to nurse. She goes to them after it's been a while.

Ruby pretty much stays in the box with them all the time. I can hear her bell jingle when she gets up to eat or use her litter box. When I hear her jingling near the door, however, I let her out for a stroll around the non-carpeted parts of the house (she is still bleeding a bit) and let her sit with me on the sofa (with a towel) until she wants to go back into her babes (usually 5 minutes or less).

It really varies. Often first time mothers are in the box almost 24 hours a day, but when they have had kittens before they tend to be a little more "relaxed" and may leave the nest more often and for longer periods. It's sort of like the way human parents are with their babies - when it's their first baby, they often jump at any little whimper; when they've done it before they are often a little more relaxed and won't, say, jump right out of the shower covered with soap when the baby fusses a little.

The most important thing is that the mother and baby should both seem comfortable. She should be attentive to him but doesn't necessarily have to be there when he is asleep. If he is crying in distress and she is ignoring him, then you may have to intervene, but it doesn't sound like the situation you have.

As long as the kitten is warm and has a full tummy, it is fine if she is out of the box. Nina had kittens one week ago today and she feeds and cleans them and then she is out to climb her scratching post or my couch. This is her first litter but they are sooo fat and happy. I think it might be a little different because your little baby doesn't have a sibling to help keep it warm. I bet she is doing fine, nature is amazing.

Skittles was in there 24/7 for almost the first week not she has them on a schedule and she is away maybe a total of 2 hour in a 24 hr day... All mommy cats are different...