Expert: Dear Tabbi - 5/26/2008

Question
Today our cat began to attack the only remaaining kitten, she is four days old and is doing well two were still born and the other one died a couple of days after birth. The mother has been looking after her so well and suddenly started biting her really hard it seemed, it seemed she wanted to move nest spots into a cupboard and seemed alittle restless, and then suddenly began to attack. this nhappened a couple of times. I called her name firmly and she stopped. I am afraid to leave them alone together.
Please help

Answer
Andrea,

If she is a first time mother then they can have some bizarre behavior because they aren't sure how this having kittens thing works. Or she may instinctively know something is wrong with the baby so that would not be abnormal behavior. Also someone may have touched the baby and put a strange smell on it and the mother doesn't like it or recognize it and it upset her.

Mother cats move their kittens at least once after they have them. Let her take the baby where she feels it will be safe. Where she is now may be out in the open too much for her liking.

The baby probably will be fine. But Mother Nature usually knows best and it is true that "the fittest will survive". Just keep an eye on everything but try not to stress the mother by having people around her alot for the first week. That is when they get nervous and things can happen to the babies as a result.

Keep in mind that cats can go into heat 48 hours to two weeks after giving birth and can get pregnant again right away. Going into heat can affect her actions towards the kitten too. Get her spayed as soon as she is no longer nursing (when the kitten is 8 weeks), or if she loses this kitten (which I hope doesn't happen!).

Tabbi