Behavior of a Mother Cat That Just Gave Birth

A cat that has recently given birth to kittens tends to undergo a temperament change. She may react differently toward her owners, and she might behave in what seems like a strange manner toward her kittens. Learning more about the behavior of mother cats can help you prepare for kittens in your home.

  1. Time Frame

    • Pet Place states that a mother cat's behavior toward her kittens can often be divided into a few stages. For the first three weeks of their lives, she is completely committed to their care. During this stage, she might be wary of trusted humans or even aggressive toward them. When her kittens are 3 to 6 weeks old, she will slowly start to allow the kittens to be more independent. When they're between 6 and 8 weeks old, she will become more distant as the kittens are weaned.

    Weaning

    • When the kittens are between 6 and 8 weeks of age, the mother cat will stop allowing them to nurse. This will begin with her walking away after letting them nurse briefly, and then she will not let them nurse at all. She might jump up on high surfaces where they cannot follow, or she might hold them down briefly to discourage them from nursing.

    Instruction

    • According to Vet Info, a mother cat will do everything for her kittens during the first three weeks, including nursing them and keeping them warm. She will be extremely tolerant of them and will clean them constantly with her tongue. After that time, she will begin to instruct them regarding activities like litterbox use and hunting. Kittens will learn to use a litterbox through observing their mother; and the mother cat will encourage them to pounce and stalk, behavior that is further reinforced when they play with their siblings.

    Considerations

    • A cat who has just given birth to kittens, especially if it is her first litter, may seem very nervous and fearful, even of humans that she has known her whole life. In many cases, she will move her kittens a few weeks after they have been born. According to Kitten Care, this instinctive behavior keeps predators from picking up the scent of new, helpless kittens. Some mothers do this several times over the course of two weeks. You can help the mother by placing a few lined boxes in the room where the kittens are and allowing her to move them as she pleases.

    Warning

    • Sometimes new mother cats don't know how to let their kittens nurse. During the first 24 hours after their birth, the mother produces colostrum, which is a substance rich in antibodies. These antibodies help develop the kittens' immune systems and are an important part of their future health. If the mother cat does not seem to know how to nurse, you might need to hold her down and lay the kittens next to her nipples. In most cases, this will help her instinct will kick in, and she'll know what to do.