About 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).
Education/Credentials ***********
Awards and Honors * One of the top 50 Experts Of 2008 *
Question QUESTION: our cat just had kittens and they want to come out of their box but when one comes out she grabs it and puts it straight back in but when another one comes out she grabs it and goes behind the bed to put it there. why is that?
ANSWER: Chanel,
Your cat must be a first time mother. They can have some bizarre behaviors because they aren't sure what this mothering stuff is a all about! (smile)
I wouldn't worry too much as long as she is feeding the kittens and they are not crying from being neglected. In her mind she is putting them where she feels they are safe. Also, mothers start to panic when the kittens start moving around and getting independant because Mom feels like she is losing control of the situation. She knows where they are. Why she is putting them in different places is probably a reason on she knows.
As long as they are safe and fed, even in two different places, then leave her be. Moving them back or around may stress her and that could affect her milk production. The kittens will be grown soon and it will be a moot point.
I would also think about getting her spayed soon. A cat can get pregnant again as soon as two weeks after giving birth!
Tabbi
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QUESTION: ok,thanx for that. we have 5 cats all together(including mum)we are giving her kittens away when there two months old, could you give us some tips we can do to make sure that mum doesnt attack any or the other four remaining cats out of frustration that she cannot find her kittens no more.
Answer Chanel,
When they are 2 months old the mother will not be so frantic about them. She won't attack her kittens out of frustration. If she attacks her kittens that is her way of weaning them when they try. Mother cats also teach their kittens how to fight and defend theirselves. It looks like she is being mean to them, but she's really not. To make her content though, I would leave her a kitten or two for company and companionship. When a kitten is weaned then the mother no longer recognizes it as family because they have no concept of 'relatives'. They just recognize by smell that they are part of 'cats that belong there'. They have no concept of brother/sister, mother/son, etc. That is why there is incest among cats. It is normal.
