Mom keeps moving the kittens!

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red_velvet_rose

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OK, Marigold gave birth to her kittens (six in all) in a birthing box in my closet. When the babies were about four days old, she kept trying to move them under my bed. Not safe, trust me. So we blocked off the bed and gave her a big dog crate (cleaned and sanitized). She moved the kittens in there no problem.

Now, less than a week later, she's trying to the move them again! We had to throw out the birthing box because it was falling apart, so the closet is no longer a good place. Under the bed is blocked off by storage boxes. So she keeps dropping the kittens under my office chair (while I'm in it!).

How can I get her to stop moving them? It's getting to be a headache keeping her from moving them somewhere completely inappropriate.

Any suggestions?

Rose
 
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Originally Posted by red_velvet_rose

OK, Marigold gave birth to her kittens (six in all) in a birthing box in my closet. When the babies were about four days old, she kept trying to move them under my bed. Not safe, trust me. So we blocked off the bed and gave her a big dog crate (cleaned and sanitized). She moved the kittens in there no problem.

Now, less than a week later, she's trying to the move them again! We had to throw out the birthing box because it was falling apart, so the closet is no longer a good place. Under the bed is blocked off by storage boxes. So she keeps dropping the kittens under my office chair (while I'm in it!).

How can I get her to stop moving them? It's getting to be a headache keeping her from moving them somewhere completely inappropriate.

Any suggestions?

Rose
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Rose is there a smaller room that you can place her in where she cannot 'move' the kittens??

Katie
 
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red_velvet_rose

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Other than shutting her in the walk-in closet, not really. She's already limited to my bedroom. I've replaced the birthing box in there and she seems to have happily moved them there. Maybe she just likes a change of scenery every few days?

Rose
 
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For some reason, mama kitty is not feeling that her kittens are secure in more open places. Are there any visitors, perhaps children or friends coming by? Was the dog crate near a window where the sights and sounds of the outside, including dogs & cats, are occurring? It sounds like she feels secure enough near you; maybe if you keep visiting the box in the closet, she will feel that they are safe.
Usually, mama kitties move the den if there is an environmental problem, such as fleas, construction noise, unwanted guests, etc.
congratulations on the new kitty family, BTW. and....we do LOVE pics
 
gayef

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If she was nesting in a dog crate, then how did she get out to move the babies? The sole benefit of using the crate is so you can close the door and prevent them from moving about with the kittens. When the kittens are old enough, you can open the door and allow them to venture out and you can allow Momma supervised outings several times a day but the rest of the time, confine her with her babies in the crate.
 
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red_velvet_rose

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Originally Posted by gayef

If she was nesting in a dog crate, then how did she get out to move the babies? The sole benefit of using the crate is so you can close the door and prevent them from moving about with the kittens. When the kittens are old enough, you can open the door and allow them to venture out and you can allow Momma supervised outings several times a day but the rest of the time, confine her with her babies in the crate.
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Right now the babies are only a week old. I left the door open so Marigold could get out to eat and use the litterbox. (The kittens can't get out of it. When they get to the toddling stage, they will be locked in the crate with a litter bow and everything.

Rose
 
tnr1

tnr1

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Originally Posted by red_velvet_rose

Right now the babies are only a week old. I left the door open so Marigold could get out to eat and use the litterbox. (The kittens can't get out of it. When they get to the toddling stage, they will be locked in the crate with a litter bow and everything.

Rose
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Rose...the crate isn't large enough for mom, kittens, food and litterbox??

Katie
 
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