You are here:

Cats/newborns???

Advertisement

Expert: - 10/16/2009


Question
My mama cat gave birth today.. to 3... She is now not laying with her babies.. it has been 4 hours since her last one and she is not laying with her babies and i put her back in her basket but she just jumps out.. I am not sure what to do.. if this is normal?? Please let me know what to do??? Thanks!!

Answer
Leah,

I am sorry I could not get back to you sooner.

If this is a first litter, she is probably unsure of herself, and this behavior is not unusual.  The pressure of the milk and the screaming of the kittens will driver her back into the basket.  For the first couple of days, the kittens need warmth as much as nourishment, so, make sure they are in a warm, draft free spot.  I would bet that she has already settled down with them.

BTW, did she clean the babies or did you?  If she did not clean the babies and you did, she may not know they are hers!!!!!  Eventually, most mama's figure it out.

Please let me know how they are doing now.

Best regards... Norm.

Cats

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Norman Auspitz

Expertise

I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.

Experience

I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.


Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.

Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook

Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.

Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.