Expert: Tina - 10/27/2009

Question
I have a new mamma cat (Renesmee). I also have a cat in the same household that had a litter at the beginning of 2009 (Yuffie). The new litter and new mamma (Renesmee)are 2 days into this. Renesmee seems to be afraid to protect her kittens from Yuffie. Yuffie began acting very weird in the sense that she keeps trying to get the kittens and hide them. We are not sure if she's just trying to help Renesmee or if she is jealous and will hurt the babies. Yuffie had a litter of 7 and all were given away. Renesmee's litter is 4 and they will probably all be given away as well. The strangest thing about the whole thing is that it could be going either way. We are scared to let Yuffie "help" Renesmee because we are not sure that that is the case. We are also scared to not let her help and Renesmee be scared of us as a result. up until now, Renesmee and Yuffie have been like daughter and mother. Renesmee = daughter: Yuffie = mother.  Kittens have been moved when we were not home by Renesmee a very short distance from basket to cubbyhole-cat-house. Then we moved them and Renesmee in their cubby-cat-house all at once to our bedroom, to keep them away from Yuffie. Once in our bedroom, Renesmee decided to move them again, to under our bed. just not sure wether to let Yuffie in the same room or keep her locked out in order to prevent more confusion. Yuffie has been hissing and batting and bitting Renesmee since birth of kittens. Renesmee just sits and takes it, almost like she is scared to defend herself or her kittens. Any help you could give will be greatly appreciated.
~nickie and matt

Answer
Don't allow any other cats near the mother cat and kittens. Other adult cats may kill the kittens.

Also please get all your cats spayed and neutered do you realize how many unwanted healthy adorable kittens are killed in shelters every day because there are far too many kittens and not enough homes.