Mother cats in the wild are some great caregivers, even if it is the first time they have had babies. They keep them clean, well fed and, above all, under control. Before they leave to go hunting, they leave them in a hidden corner that serves as a den, away from potential predators.
However, when these animals began to live with humans in our homes, they had to adapt. If the cat becomes pregnant, she will spend much of her time looking for the best place where she can give birth and, when she finds it, she will not move from there except to eat or do her business. Even so, the unexpected events They sometimes happen, and it is important to know Why a cat may reject her kittens.
Main factors why a cat rejects her kittens
A cat's rejection of her kittens can be due to various factors, both physical and emotional. Although it is more common for a cat to instinctively care for her kittens, there are cases in which she cannot or does not want to fulfill this role. Below, we explain the most common causes.
Health problems of the offspring
A mother cat can detect if any of her kittens were born with a disease o malformationThis is part of her survival instinct, as she prefers to focus her attention on viable offspring. If one of the young is weak or has little chance of survival, the mother may reject it to protect the others.
Stress and inadequate environment
A noisy environment, with too many interruptions or too little tranquility, can cause the cat to experience anxiety y StressThis may cause her to avoid her babies, especially if she feels she doesn't have a safe place to care for them. Offering her a private, quiet space is crucial.
Maternal health problems
If the mother is found sick, tired or suffers pain Due to childbirth, she may not have the strength to care for her babies. Problems such as mammary infections (mastitis) or severe malnutrition are also factors that can influence this decision.
Large litter
When many kittens are born (five or more), the mother may not be able to care for them all. In these cases, she may focus on the strongest and abandon the weakest. This behavior, although it may seem cruel, is an attempt to ensure the survival of the majority of the litter.
How to prevent and treat rejection
It is essential for cat owners to encourage a ideal environment for the mother and the offspring. Here we offer you some tips To prevent a cat from rejecting her kittens:
- Prepare the nest in advance: Place clean blankets or towels in a quiet, safe place where the cat can give birth. Avoid changing the place she has chosen unless it is dangerous.
- Avoid excessive handling: During the first few weeks, limit interactions with the kittens. A human scent on the kittens could cause the mother to reject them.
- Keeping calm at home: Minimize noise and visitors during this period, as tranquility is key for the new mother.
- Adequate nutrition: Make sure your cat has access to quality food and fresh water to maintain her energy.
What to do if the cat rejects her kittens
If, despite your efforts, your cat has rejected some or all of her kittens, you will need to take care of them. Here's how:
Bottle feeding
Newborn kittens need to be fed with milk. specific formula for cats, available at veterinary clinics. Feed the kittens every 2-3 hours, including at night, as they are completely dependent on you.
Provide heat
Kittens can't regulate your body temperatureUse thermal blankets or hot water bottles (always wrapped in towels to avoid burns) to keep them warm.
Stimulation to urinate and defecate
Kittens need to be stimulated to do their business. Use a wet cotton in warm water and gently rub your genital area after each meal.
veterinary consultation
If the kitten shows signs of disease o extreme weakness, take him to the vet as soon as possible. This professional will be able to give you a diagnosis and the necessary guidelines to care for him properly.
Our job as caregivers is to observe, understand, and if necessary, intervene to ensure the survival and well-being of the babies. Make sure you pay close attention to both mother and babies to identify potential problems early on and respond effectively. With patience and care, it is possible to overcome these difficulties and raise the entire litter.
I already mentioned something about the pregnancy and delivery of one of my cats in another post of yours.
I had two cats that I picked up from the street, the other, who also gave birth, died a few days after giving birth. That one got very tired during the delivery, she had 4, but after the first one, like the other one, she had a hard time taking care of them.
Unlike the other, who let me help him and only had to let them come out, I would open the placentas on the side of his face and put everything close to hers, so that he would lick them and give the breath of life. Then the placenta was eaten without leaving a trace.
We took the one that died from the street, she was about three and a half months old, but she was wild, she never allowed herself to be caressed. To put the antiparasitic pipette on it was a show. But still he did not want to return her to the street, very thin, cold, raining and young as she was.
During the delivery she did not let me get close, she snorted and threw her leg. I suffered because I saw the babies inside the placenta without breathing ...
but slowly, he took them all out and revived.
She got sick, I remember that on the day of delivery she was already vomiting yellow foam, she had diarrhea, but she would not let me get close to her, and less afterwards with her babies, whom she breastfed for a few days.
The vet told me that being such a wild animal it would be difficult to treat him, in addition to not being able to give him according to what medicines.
Anyway, she was weakening and when she allowed herself to be caressed I thought, now I'm taking her to the vet, she was still scratching me, but it was too late.
The babies were placed on the other cat, who accepted them as hers from the first second, she has been a very good mother.
I helped her by giving them a bottle, so they suckled, and if they didn't have enough, they drank a bottle at will (prepared Royal Canin milk. You have to make the perfect mix with mineral water / warm bottle without burning, or they will not drink it).
There was only one problem, 9 cats for 8 teats. One, the weakest, and also these were one week less, used to not breastfeed, because when the others finished it is because there was no milk, and since he was small he was also crushed under the rest. I gave a bottle, I pushed the others aside at times, but it was not enough.
One day I found him crushed under the mother (you have to watch because he does not distinguish if it is a fold of the blanket or a baby) he was breathing very fast. I tried to revive him a bit, give him a bottle, but he didn't react. It had some defect because it was very small, the little eyes were hardly visible. And died.
Coincidentally, the same thing happened to me with a hamster, both black ones too. That hamster did not grow like the others, he stayed very small and was scared of his brothers who were twice or more his size, I put him in a cage alone and he also died. If he was scared, by any noise, he would "faint" and within seconds he would get up and walk again.
3 of his hamster brothers, also black, grew normally and lived more than 2 years, like most of the rest.
These are things that sometimes unfortunately happen. You always have to try to save all the young, but not all of them always succeed. But at least we will know that we have tried.