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QUESTION: Tilly adopted us a few weeks ago and 4 days ago presented us with 3 kittens!
So far so good. Today however she has started behaving strangely. She keeps coming for a hug and lying in front of me showing her, still fat!, belly and wanting to be stroked. She has not made any sounds, as she usually does if she wants more food. She has looked after her babies wonderfully and they seem to be thriving ok. She still seems quite fat, but the fat sides are very soft and flabby, not like they were when she was pregnant. It took her a long time to have her babies, 12 hours in fact, one at 7.30 a.m. one at 10.30 am and the last at 6.45 pm.
What I was wondering was, is this behaviour normal after a few days, she has practically ignored us up to now since the kittens came.
ANSWER: Jane,
It sounds normal to me. Usually, for the first few days, the mamas are very protective of the newborns and spend all their time with them. As the kittens fatten up and are less demanding, mamas often begin to wander a bit more.
She sounds to me as if she did very well having her kittens. As lonmg as they are fat and roly poly, they are doing well.
Best regards... Norm.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thank you for that. It was reassuring. This morning she moved the babies from the lovely warm nest she had in the drawer in the spare room to the bottom of my husband's wardrobe! Smelly shoes and old leather hat and all! Not very comfy. Would it be OK for me to put a box with some bedding in there for her, or will she then move them again! She is still not totally "tame" having lived on her own for so long, at least 4 years that we know of.
Jane,
I am sorry I am a bit late getting to this. Cats like something den like to keep their babies in. It sure sounds like the bottom of your husband's wardrobe fits the bill. If mama is happy there, I would leave things alone. There is alwasy the danger that is you fiddle with them, she may move them again.
Best regards... Norm.
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| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | As a first time "mom" its really helpful to have a timely respnse to questions. I am wading through treacle here trying to do the right thing for Tilly, she is so lovely and I have waited so long for my husband to agree to me having her at all! Thank you for the support. | ||
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Answers by Expert:
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.
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