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Cats/overly aggressive mom

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Expert: - 3/12/2009


Question
I have a cat that is approximately 2 years of age, she just recently gave birth to a litter of four kittens.  Unfortunately only one is still living and she is being extremely aggressive to both me and my boyfriend.  If we so much as go in the same room that she has the kitten in she will leave the nest to attack us.  I was just wondering if this was normal? how long will it possibly last?

Answer
Melissa,

No, this is not really normal.  I have seen females growl for the first few days and nip at us, if we try to handle the kitten after having kittens, but this behavior usually subsides pretty quickly.  

I wonder if she was able to get everything out of the uterus?  If not, she could have some discomfort, and a trip to the vet may be a good idea.  IF you take her to the vet, do not put her and her kitten in the same carrier as mamas have been known to lose their balance and roll over on the kitten during transport.

Please let me know what you find out, if anything.

Best regards... Norm.  

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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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