Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/Maternal Instincts? Pregnancy?

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 10/26/2009


Question
My Female cat is about a year and a half and she is not spayed. I just moved in two new male kittens of questionable age and recently, she will not stop cleaning them (she will literally sit there for an hour if they'd let her#  - she is not in heat and she has not reacted this way EVER before with any of the cats she's ever lived with #she usually hates them, both male and female)....should i be concerned that she may be pregnant?

Answer
Lisa,

It sounds like she may be preparing to go into heat (Proestrus). This is the time in the cycle when the female begins attracting males but is not yet receptive to their advances. Estrogen is building up and she is preparing for ovulation. The female is extra affectionate at this time.

To be honest, anytime you have an unspayed female you should be concerned that she may be pregnant! If she were pregnant her nipples would be pink at about 3 weeks, and she would be putting on weight at about 5 weeks. I would get her spayed ASAP. Also get the male kittens neutered. Spaying and neutering helps with a LOT of behavior problems.

The grooming could be related to stress and/or an emotional issue. Have there been any major changes in the household or her routine besides the new kittens? Grooming (themselves or other cats) is a way for cats to relieve stress. Or there may be something about the smell of the new kittens that is attracting her or bringing out her maternal instincts.

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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