Expert: Jessica - 7/9/2009

Question
My cat just had kittens and my kids are present and want to touch and all that and i was told not to let them or the mom will eat the kittens! Is that true???

Answer
Hi Kelli.  It's not true.  Mom will try to hide her babies if she feels there is too much activity going on around them, but she will not eat them if someone touches them.  If you are there to supervise and your mama cat seems okay with the children taking a few gentle strokes, then it's okay for the kids to touch the babies for a brief moment.  However, make sure not to interrupt mealtime, and keep visits short and quiet.  If mom ends up trying to carry the kittens away while the kids are there, then she is feeling uneasy, so you should end the visit.

The newborns should be held and gently nuzzled at your face for a few minutes each day, although I would recommend this duty be left strictly up to an adult, as the babies can be easily injured if held too tight or dropped.  Research shows that kittens who have intense human contact from birth open their eyes earlier, leave the nest earlier and form stronger human bonds than kittens who don't receive human contact early in life.

Enjoy your little ones!

Jessica