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Cats/Mom recognize her kitten?

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Expert: - 9/25/2009


Question
We recently had our feral cat colony fixed.  Prior to doing so one of the females had a litter, one of the kittens we kept (others adopted out).  The kitten is indoor only and an absolute  sweetheart. The mom is hanging around more and more, getting much more comfortbale around us and the house and we now are seeing mom and her kitten (4-5 months) looking at each other through the windows.  Our other indoor cats (adults) don't pay any attention to the kitten's mom.  Question is, do they recognize each other as family?  Are there emotions involved ("hey, that's my mom/baby etc."?  is this just basic curiosity going on or something more?  

Answer
LR,

Generally cats are quite territorial and mother cats will lose their maternal instinct towards their kittens if they've been separated for 48+ hours so most professionals (vets, behaviorists) would say that emotions the way that we would feel them aren't a part of feline behavior. I have to admit though that I've seen some pretty strange things over the years so I have to say in some situations I do believe there's a deeper connection between moms and kittens than they're given credit for. It's quite possible that your feral mom (there is a difference between feral and stray, strays are generally abandoned pets while ferals have had little or no contact with people in the crucial early weeks of life and they're generally wild animals who will do anything at all to get away from people, many people forget that feral and stray are not interchangeable terms) has seen the good life her baby has and she just might think she wants a slice of that kitty heaven (your home, good food, warm beds, lots of affection). Who knows, maybe you'll have an extra rescue kitty who will be eternally grateful for the comforts of being a pet? If you have any further questions, concerns or you'd like me to clarify anything in this answer please feel free to contact me again and I will do my absolute best to help you out to the best of my ability.

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Ali

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I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.

Experience

I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.

Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.

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