Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/mother cat and stuffed animal

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 7/21/2009


Question
hello i was wondering why my mamma cat went in my room and took my tweety bird stuffed animal and brought it in the living room and was biting it i went to grab it she hissed and growled at me but yet she still has her kittens why is that... its verry strange i hope you can help thank you......
                  danielle

Answer
Danielle,

Some behaviors only the cat knows why it does it. Is she a first time mother? Sometimes they act in a bizarre manner.

Also, if your mamma cat had a feral parent they have hunting instincts inbred in them, and if they are an inside cat, they can't satisfy those instincts except by hunting something in the house. She may be simulating catching a prey and tearing it up to "feed the kittens". Which is why she would growl about protecting her "catch".

Try giving her raw beef rib bones. I have the butcher cut them in half. The raw beef satisfies the "fresh kill" instinct (she can tear at the meat...and may growl too, mine do), and the fibers in the meat help clean their teeth.

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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