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Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/Spayed cat rejecting previous kittens

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 5/3/2008


Question
Dear Tabbi,
I just "inherited" 3 cats - a pregnant mother and her 2 kittens. The kittens are about 11 weeks and I noticed the mom was pregnant again - about 25 days. I decided to interrupt the pregnance and had her spayed ASAP. The kittens are missing their mom - so I brought her home and tried to reintroduce them and the mom acted like she had amnesia. She didn't recognize the barn or the kittens and they are pining away for her. I know that the mom is hormonal and having her spayed would decrease the hormones But will I ever be able to get these 3 to form a family to live in the barn in harmony? And what should I do to help the bonding process to start. I can't keep them inside as I already have 2 indoor cats & 1 rabbit (all rescues) I am going to keep them as our SPCA is over flowing with cats.
Many thanks,
Pat

Answer
Pat,

When kittens are weaned the family recognition ends. Cats do not recognize, as people do, relationships. To her they are just cats in your family. That is why there is incest (mother/son, brother/sister, etc).

That is good that you terminated the pregnancy by getting her spayed. She probably does not have any maternal feelings right now. The kittens miss the comfort and milk from mom. It will take some time for adjustments on both sides, but everyone should get along OK. Make sure that you get the kittens fixed too. 3 months or 3 pounds is the average time you can have it done.

The mother will 'school' the kittens if she doesn't want them near her. Or she may start cuddling with them. It depends on the personality of the cat She may be depressed right now because she may instinctively know that she 'lost' her newest kittens. Plus she had a 'kitty hysterectomy' and she needs to get over the trauma and pain of that. She should be acting normal again in a couple of weeks.

Tabbi

Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)

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Dear Tabbi

Expertise

My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.

Experience

Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).

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