Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/mom cat & siblings

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 5/30/2008


Question
Our Siamese mix mom cat had three kittens.  Now that they are older, the alpha male tends to chase mom cat when she comes in the house to eat (nightime or day).  Many times she will go back out the kitty door without eating. We sometimes will put the food outside so she can eat undisturbed. When we do this,  the other cats will push her aside, not all of the time though. Is this normal behavior?

Answer
Judy,

Has the male cat been around her since she has had the kittens? Cats recognize other cats by smell and not by sight. She would smell different after having kittens and he may think she is a different cat. Also if she is in heat again she will smell different. A cat can go into heat and get pregnant from 48 hour to 2 weeks after giving birth. Getting her spayed may help the problem.

You need to scold the male and let him know that chasing the mother cat is a bad thing. When she comes in to eat lock up the male until she's done. She won't eat enough and digest her food good if she is too nervous about getting chased. When you feed her outside either feed the others at the same time, stand there and make sure the other cats don't bother her, or keep a bowl filled with dry food all the time so the cats can nibble when they are hungry. They will eat at different times so it won't bother them if momma cat is eating.

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.

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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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