hi,
i hope someone can put my mind at rest ???, after searching the net i still am no wiser, my cat Angel has a litter of 5 kittens, they are 3weeks and 3 days old, she is a good mother, never far away from them and if one should squeak she's straight back there to see whats up, washes them and feeds them like she should and they are all thriving, my problem is that whenever they venture out of their box she seems to get very rough with them , grabing them, no claws are out, and holding them by the head and neck, not biteing just holding, i have stopped them from getting out of the box at the moment, i am worried that she will hurt them or even suffocate them :'(, although she doesn't hold them for that long, lets them go then holds them again, is this normal ???, i really don't like the look of this, please help, i am getting nervous about leaving them with her in case they get out of the box when i am not there. thankyou, jajoma

Kaleila

Hello Jajoma
It is complete natural that the mother grabs her pups by the neck. Don't worry she will not hurt them. that is the only way she can carry a lost one back to its nest.
Have you ever seen a movie from the wild where lions or wolfs carry their little ones? The same way as your cat does. So just let the mother cat do her job. You still can observe but I don't believe you have to worry.
All the best to you and your little cat family.
Kaleila

jajoma

hi,
thanks for your reply , but she isn't carrying them just holding them and by the front of the neck, is this still alright ???, thanks jajoma

Kaleila

Hi again,
It seems she just likes to stop them from moving further and yes the neck is usually where mother cats or dogs grab the pup. Maybe try to let the kittens do what they like and if one leaves the box you might experience that mom will grab it and actually carry it back. Usually any good natured mother animal won't hurt or kill the little ones unless they are ill and they sense it, usually that happens in nature. So again don't worry to much just observe and work with your cat let her do her job as mom. To much interference by human hand is not always good, only when it seems to be absolutely necessary.
Take care
Kaleila

jajoma

hi,
thanks again for your reply, i will follow your advice and see how that goes , angel hasn't given me anything to worry about during the time she has had these kittens except this so i will trust her and just keep a little eye on her, honestly i have turned into a mother hen :, where these kittens are concerned. thanks alot, i will let you know how i get on, or should i say how angel gets on.

Kaleila

You are very welcome and yes I am happy to hear what happens.
Good luck
Kaleila