Mother Cats Have Secret Ways of Raising Kittens—Things We Don’t Know!The cat mom at home spends her days in “confinement,” but the owner has never seen her kittens. Curious, the female owner decided to install a camera, only to discover that there were three tiny kittens, about a month old, hiding in the house. It turns out that the mother cat had found a safe, hidden spot for her kittens. When no one was around, she would secretly signal them to come out and search for food. Upon hearing any suspicious sounds, the kittens would quickly hide again. So, why do cats hide their kittens? There are two main reasons:
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It’s in Their Nature
Before cats were domesticated by humans, they lived in the wild. When a cat is about to give birth, she will instinctively seek out a safe, quiet place to care for her kittens and teach them survival skills.
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Feeling That the Environment Is Too Noisy or Dangerous
The process of giving birth is long and exhausting for a mother cat. She needs to feel safe and trust the people around her. Therefore, it’s crucial not to let unfamiliar people near the mother cat. If strangers are constantly coming and going, she will actively hide her kittens. If she feels that the hiding place has become unsafe, she will move her kittens to a new spot. In a home environment, places like under the bed, inside closets, or corners under desks are ideal spots for a mother cat. However, cats aren’t exactly good at math, and during the relocation process, it’s possible for her to leave one or two kittens behind, which can sadly result in their death.Aside from hiding their kittens, there are a few other confusing behaviors that cats display when raising their young. Have you ever experienced any of these?Disinterest in Caring for the Kittens, Even Abandoning Them.Some mother cats, after giving birth, will simply walk away and ignore their kittens. They might not want to nurse them, and even if the owner places the kittens near the mother, she may completely ignore them. In some cases, the mother might even sit on top of a kitten, accidentally causing suffocation. This is usually due to the mother cat having poor maternal instincts. In such cases, hand-feeding the kittens may be necessary.Suddenly Refusing to Care for One Kitten.If a mother cat suddenly rejects one of her kittens, refusing to nurse it, there are usually two reasons:One possibility is that the mother feels the kitten is too weak or has a congenital defect and won’t survive. If this happens, do not try to secretly put the kitten back with the mother, as it could result in the mother cat eating the kitten.Another reason is that the owner might have touched the kitten without gloves, causing the mother to no longer recognize the kitten’s scent. In this case, you can try rubbing the kitten with a bit of the mother’s scent from her rear end to help the kitten regain its smell. If the mother starts grooming the kitten after sniffing it, it means she has accepted it back.Bringing the Kittens to You.If you find that the mother cat is bringing her kittens to you, there could be six possible reasons. Which one does your cat belong to?”This isn’t my breed.” If it’s a first-time mother, she might be confused and not realize that the kittens are her own. If the kittens have been around humans too much, the mother might think they don’t belong to her.”Look, I have babies!” Giving birth is a painful experience for cats, and they often want recognition from their owners. When a mother cat brings her kittens to you, she’s introducing her babies and sharing the joy of becoming a mother, hoping you will help care for them.”You’re the one I trust the most.” After giving birth, a mother cat becomes very sensitive and protective of her kittens. If she brings her kittens to you, it’s a sign that she trusts you deeply and sees you as one of her closest companions.”My kittens need to stop nursing! Please help!” As the kittens grow, their teeth begin to emerge, which can hurt the mother during nursing. At this point, the mother cat knows it’s time for the kittens to wean and may ask for your help in the process.”Please help me take care of the babies, I’m so busy!” Some first-time mother cats may feel overwhelmed and inexperienced. To make things easier on herself, she may bring the kittens to you for help in caring for them.”Help, save my babies!” After giving birth, a mother cat’s body is often weak and she may not have enough energy to care for her kittens properly. If there are too many kittens or she hasn’t had enough nutrition during pregnancy, she may not produce enough milk. To save her kittens, she may bring them to you, hoping that you will help nurse them.
Everything in Nature Has a Spirit, and Mothers Are Strong – Cats Are No Exception.Share this article to help more people understand how challenging it is for mother cats to raise their kittens.
