[unknownatasha]

One of my cats gave birth to 6 kittens Tuesday morning... Wednesday morning my 2 other cats went to the vets to get spayed. One of them was 6 weeks pregnant so they aborted the babies and spayed her. When I brought the other 2 cats home from the vets, the one that was pregnant tried to take over my other cats kittens. She climbed in the cage and laid on top of them. We took her out of the cage and locked it up with kittens and mother in it. Today, we caught her with her head in the bars of the cage and she had a kitten in her mouth and was trying to take it out of the cage. Is it her hormones that make her think they are hers? Will she harm them if she gets them? We aren't letting her in the garage around them and their mother. These are very spoiled barn cats. It doesn't seem to be bothering the mother cat but I am afraid if the other one gets the kittens she will hide them or worse hurt them. Is this normal?

[danielnoahsmommy]

You took her babies from her. It seems as though she either thinks they are hers or she is trying to replace them. Perhaps she is lactating?

[froggy7]

Feral cats can live in a loose pride-type of society, and it is not unknown for two females with litters at the same time to basically co-mingle the litters. Both females will tend and nurse the kittens. Makes sense... one can stay with them while the other goes hunt, and that protects the kittens from danger, especially roving toms.

[carolbcac]

Froggy is right about the cross mothering. The spayed female has probably started this because removal of the ovaries mimics the sudden drop in progesterone that occurs when an animal gives birth. Keep an eye on the two of them for a few days to make sure both moms are happy with the situation, and that the second cat means no harm to the kittens (which is very unlikely). They should be able to stay together as mom and doting "aunt".

[frangipanis]

Our cat had a litter of three kittens and before I was able to have her sprayed, she was obviously already pregnant again. Not having the heart to spray her while pregnant, I let her continue with the pregnancy.

We had kept one of the kittens from the first litter who took a lot of interest in the new kittens. I'm not sure if she still thought of herself as a kitten (at a few months old, she kept feeding from her mum alongside the kittens) or if she was playing at being mum, but she would climb into the space with the other kittens to join them. The mother cat didn't mind at all, and the kittens were never harmed.

BTW: The mother cat was sprayed after the second litter, but I know a lot of people disagree with not spraying their cats even if pregnant. However, both litters were healthy and gorgeous and we had no problem finding homes for all of them. People do want kittens for pets and a lot of people do love and look after their pets; ours are especially well cared for. The experience of watching the first kitten being born and caring for all the kittens as well as their mum, was a wonderful time in our household.

[froggy7]

Allowing the two females to be together should be OK, but do use some common sense, because while co-mothering is common, a female can also try and steal a litter. So, did the two females get along before this? Also, the one female has a spay incision that is still tender, so keep an eye on that in case she does start nursing the kittens. Little paws kneading against that incision could cause it to get infected, and probably would hurt!

[wildandblue]

I once had a female cat that had been spayed many years before take a big interest in a litter of new kittens. She just basically laid on the couch and kept them warm and entertained while Momcat was running around. Agree cats are pride animals and all the females are like an extended family of aunts and grandmothers doting on their offspring.

[frangipanis]

Spayed, not sprayed!

Enjoy your brood of kittens Natasha, and thanks for that bushg :)