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- Nov 18, 2023
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We’ve got three adult cats (2 neutered male and 1 female), the female gave birth to a litter of 5 kittens before Christmas and all of them have been getting along just fine. The adult male cats would lick the kittens, sometimes play - if it gets a bit rough, the mom intervenes and back to peace.
Something happened last night - we have an outdoor catio, all of them were out there playing & looking. Suddenly I heard noise of growling and screaming, they all rushed back at home and continued to behave nervous. The kittens went into hiding straightaway.
After a couple of hours, the situation seemed to get better. The mom cat is friendly again towards one of the males, the kittens still hide but came out to play and eat, smelled the mom and the mom seemed to be fine with them.
But the other male decided to stay in the catio overnight. And this morning when I brought him back for food, the mom cat freaked out and attacked him. The poor thing was so scared and I separated them - the male’s in another room (closed door), hiding under bed.
The kittens came out this morning to eat, went for their mom (appeared fine). But then they went into hiding again, and growl at the mom (the mom was not growling, just watching them).
My best guess is there was another animal outside the catio last night, they got scared. The male spent the night outside may smell differently, and the nervous mom was protecting her kittens.
All the cats and kittens are safe - I checked no injuries except the male had a minor scratch.
I just wonder what to do now.. I’m separating the male from the rest - he’s too stressed anyways, best to give him own space to recover. The other male’s not involved in any fighting, but was scared by the female cat’s aggression too, so keeping some distance from her, which is fine. The kittens are hiding in a place where the adult cats cannot access, including the mom. The mom seems to be “guarding” them, but the kittens are somehow scared of the mom too.
I tried to put the mom cat in a different room - the kittens then come out, but the mom is worried, meowing & scratching door to come out. When she’s out she just sit in front of the kitten’s hiding place…The kittens are getting their 2nd vaccination and some will start to leave in 1 1/2 week time. The picture was taken yesterday when they were a happy family.
Any tips highly appreciated, thank you.
Something happened last night - we have an outdoor catio, all of them were out there playing & looking. Suddenly I heard noise of growling and screaming, they all rushed back at home and continued to behave nervous. The kittens went into hiding straightaway.
After a couple of hours, the situation seemed to get better. The mom cat is friendly again towards one of the males, the kittens still hide but came out to play and eat, smelled the mom and the mom seemed to be fine with them.
But the other male decided to stay in the catio overnight. And this morning when I brought him back for food, the mom cat freaked out and attacked him. The poor thing was so scared and I separated them - the male’s in another room (closed door), hiding under bed.
The kittens came out this morning to eat, went for their mom (appeared fine). But then they went into hiding again, and growl at the mom (the mom was not growling, just watching them).
My best guess is there was another animal outside the catio last night, they got scared. The male spent the night outside may smell differently, and the nervous mom was protecting her kittens.
All the cats and kittens are safe - I checked no injuries except the male had a minor scratch.
I just wonder what to do now.. I’m separating the male from the rest - he’s too stressed anyways, best to give him own space to recover. The other male’s not involved in any fighting, but was scared by the female cat’s aggression too, so keeping some distance from her, which is fine. The kittens are hiding in a place where the adult cats cannot access, including the mom. The mom seems to be “guarding” them, but the kittens are somehow scared of the mom too.
I tried to put the mom cat in a different room - the kittens then come out, but the mom is worried, meowing & scratching door to come out. When she’s out she just sit in front of the kitten’s hiding place…The kittens are getting their 2nd vaccination and some will start to leave in 1 1/2 week time. The picture was taken yesterday when they were a happy family.
Any tips highly appreciated, thank you.
