How a cat tolerates kittens

A cat’s body and instincts undergo amazing transformations in anticipation of giving birth to her kittens. Her body language and her changing behavior are all indicators that she’s prepared to become a mother. However, how does a cat go about giving birth and caring for her young?

With the help of their instincts, cats are born with the capacity to take care of their kittens. A mother cat knows exactly what to do with her newborns after they are born, including cleaning and feeding them. The mother cat’s role in the first few weeks is critical, as she supplies food, warmth, and protection to ensure her kittens grow into robust, healthy adults.

Gaining knowledge about how a cat tolerates and cares for her kittens can help us understand the delicate balance of motherhood in animals. These little animals survive thanks to a mix of instinct, tenderness, and a little bit of natural magic.

Natural instincts dictate a cat’s capacity to tolerate and tend to her kittens. She makes sure they survive from the moment they are born by providing for them, keeping them warm, and watching over them. The mother cat gradually teaches her growing kittens life skills like grooming and hunting as they get older, modifying her level of care as needed. In order to enable the kittens to flourish independently, this procedure combines gentle distancing with nurturing.

Instincts, character and behavior of cats

An innate trait known as instinct promotes deliberate behavior based on a subconscious inclination. The central nervous system is in charge of these automatic signals.

• self-preservation;
• procreation;
• protection of territory;
• satisfaction of hunger.

Cats have needs for play and communication because they are intelligent animals.

A cat’s innate desire to pursue a escaping mouse is genetically ingrained.

An irritating factor is required for the trigger mechanism, which awakens instincts, to function. Furry pets, for instance, will use sounds like scratching or rustling to locate a victim.

Every reflex is linked to the external environment and relates to a biological purpose. The three most significant are maternal, sexual, and hunting.

Because the animal seeks food because of its innate desire to do so, it is one of the main

Researchers group all the instincts they have studied into multiple sizable categories.

Table 1: Cats’ studied instincts

When kittens are born, the maternal instinct becomes more prominent.

There are certain behavioral patterns that vanish in animals housed in small spaces. Their original meaning has been lost, which is why this occurs. For instance, during the domestication of cats, the hunting instinct changes. The ability to jump, run quickly, and have good senses of touch, smell, and hearing all stay intact, but the drive to capture prey progressively wanes. The animal becomes accustomed to the regular feeding schedule and stops making an effort to find food on its own. Social and territorial instincts, particularly maternal ones, are important in domestic cats. It remains relevant regardless of other factors such as the conditions of detention.

The hunting instinct disappears as a result of the owner’s care for the animal.

Maternal instinct

A newlywed cat’s repertoire of behaviors revolves around providing careful attention to her young. The hormone that causes milk production is not the only hormone the body produces during pregnancy—oxytocin is also produced. The bond between the cat and the kittens is caused by this substance. The action’s mechanism is straightforward. The scent of the mother’s amniotic fluid, which stays on the infants, helps people recognize her children. As a result, scent cues during the first 20 days following birth are very important.

How to know if a cat is pregnant

Caring for the offspring changes with the development of the mental and physical state of the babies. In its absence, they lag behind in growth. For 3 weeks after birth, the female tirelessly watches over the kittens. If they crawl away from the nest, she returns them back. In most cases, dragging kittens at this stage is considered normal. The exception is restless, repeated shifting of the babies from place to place. This is caused by a dangerous postpartum pathology. Scientists have found that it is safe for a kitten to be in the female"s teeth. Certain impulses are formed in the animal"s brain that help maintain balance and better orientation in space when carrying offspring. In addition, babies instinctively assume the fetal position and pull their limbs to the body, providing themselves with additional stability.

The kitten instinctively assumes the shape of an embryo when it gets caught in the mother’s teeth.

Characteristics

Animals are governed not only by instincts but also by character. In addition to reflexes, cats possess a variety of well-developed unique behavior strategies. The latter’s formation is contingent upon the animal’s surroundings. The female’s postpartum behavioral pattern may vary based on her character traits.

A human cat enjoys nesting in its owner’s bed.

Researchers identify five categories of feline personalities. Table 2: Character types that are cats

Type	Characteristic
Cat-human	Very sociable animals that need constant care. Attached to the owner and do not skimp on displays of affection. Consider themselves members of the family and try to take part in the daily life of the owners.
Hunting cat	Possesses pronounced hunting instincts. Constantly pursues birds, mice and enthusiastically runs after toys. Feels bad in a closed space. Needs to be kept outside.
Cat-cat	Prefers spending time with representatives of the feline family to communicating with people. Loves to live in pairs and does not get bored in an empty apartment. Pets of this type can often be found rubbing noses with their own kind.
Quarrelsome cat	The most aggressive and independent type. Feels like the owner of the territory and does not allow encroachment on his property. Does not like to play with people, rejects affection.
Inquisitive cat	Constantly absorbed in exploring the surrounding space, using the organs of smell and touch. Positively perceives new people and wants to be outside the home. An inquisitive mind often leads to a loss of control over the situation.

The majority of cats are capable of learning from their errors and avoiding bad situations from happening again. It’s been suggested that before acting, pets consider a number of different scenarios.

Cats are considered to be animals with developed minds.

Why does a cat drag kittens

Raiding kittens to a new location makes sense, especially since members of the feline family are intelligent animals. Their innate maternal instinct drives them to protect the viability of their progeny. Table 3: Cats’ reasons for having to move their offspring

Motive motive	Interpretation
Excessive curiosity of people towards newborns	If the owners constantly look into the nest, the female stops perceiving it as reliable. In their natural habitat, animals hide their offspring in places remote from strangers and inaccessible to predators. Therefore, a cat always looks for a place with minimal traffic.
Close proximity to a food source	3 weeks after lambing, babies need additional feeding in addition to mother"s milk. During this period, the animal tries to equip a home next to the kitchen.
Inexperience of a cat	After the first lambing, not all become good mothers. Some females perceive the squeak of babies as dissatisfaction with the location of the nest. In an effort to please the newborns, the cat moves the newborns to a new place.
Bad conditions	Dampness, drafts, cold, high air temperature, excessive lighting are not suitable for keeping offspring.
Nest pollution	Over time, the place for keeping kittens becomes dirty. Excrement, secretions of the sebaceous glands and other waste products of cat life negatively affect the condition of the litter and sanitary conditions in general.
Mismatch between the size of the nest and the kittens	A box that is too big or too small from the female"s point of view is not suitable for keeping kittens. For example, a spacious basket will be unprotected and accessible to predators for babies. Or, conversely, over time the box becomes narrow for older kittens. In any case, the female will go in search of a more comfortable place to place the offspring.
Excessive screaming of babies	If a kitten screams very loudly, in order to protect the rest of the offspring, the female will move it to another place. After all, in a natural habitat, a predator will easily find shelter by the baby"s squeak.
Postpartum eclampsia	A lack of calcium leads to a painful condition, accompanied by disruptions in the nervous system. Cats show excessive anxiety towards kittens and become aggressive. For females in this state, it is typical to constantly drag babies to new nests.

In certain instances, a breed trait is carrying kittens by the scruff. Bengal cat behavior is observed in this manner.

Bengali breed females frequently spend their time dragging kittens.

Negative consequences

Even though safety and hygienic concerns typically dictate a change of location, it can still be fatal for the infants:

1. Hitting the floor. If the female is frightened while carrying the kittens, she can drop the fragile newborn. Falling from the height of an adult cat is fatal.
2. Teeth injury. When dragging, the cat strongly squeezes the withers of the babies. If the female is distracted, she can clench her jaw and cause harm.
3. Being unattended. When frequently transporting kittens, the cat sometimes forgets some of the offspring in the old place. Being without milk and warmth, they die.

It is not appropriate to remove the babies from the cat during the dragging process. This will cause the jaws to clench, resulting in skin injuries.

Don’t touch the kittens in the female’s teeth.

Criteria for selecting a suitable place

• secluded;
• hard to reach;
• with subdued lighting;
• hidden from prying eyes;
• cozy;
• clean;
• without strong odors;
• warm.

Women frequently select the owner’s spotless linen-lined closets.

The cat’s personality influences the location choice. Kind animals provide kittens with a space that has been ready for them beforehand. Animals that are essentially independent have the ability to decline the offered nest. How can a cat’s house be made? Examine in a dedicated piece.

Cats enjoy making nests for their young in nightstands.

How to wean a cat from carrying kittens

Initially, you should ascertain what caused the mother to search for a new home for her young. A loving mother cannot be reprimanded or punished.

1. Close access to unsafe places. Such as the space under the bathtub and the balcony.
2. Find a new nest and help in its arrangement.
3. Protect the cat family from other pets.
4. In case of postpartum eclampsia, give injections of 2.5 ml of calcium gluconate every 40 minutes, but not more than 10 ml per day. For preventive purposes, use "Kinosil" according to the dosage indicated in the instructions.

The best way to support animals during the postpartum period is to provide them with safe, warm surroundings.

"Kinosil" works well to lower a cat’s risk of developing eclampsia.

Stage	Description
Pregnancy	The pregnancy lasts around 9 weeks, during which the cat"s body prepares for birth.
Nesting	As birth approaches, the cat finds a quiet and safe place to give birth.
Labor	The cat experiences contractions and delivers the kittens, usually without needing help.
Post-birth	The mother cleans the kittens and ensures they start nursing right away.
Bonding	The cat bonds with her kittens, keeping them close for warmth and safety.

Observing a mother cat tend to her young serves as a reminder of the innate tendencies that animals possess. She is quick to provide warmth, food, and protection to her kittens when she senses that they need it.

While every cat is unique, most will heed their instincts to ensure the safety and well-being of their kittens. She can successfully raise her litter with patience and a peaceful environment—often without much assistance from people.

The mother cat will begin to wean her kittens as they get older and more self-sufficient, teaching them vital survival skills along the way. It’s an amazing process that demonstrates how suited cats are for motherhood.

Video on the topic

How a Cat Carries Her Kittens ?#CatCarriesKittens

The cat carries the kittens back to the box and does not allow them to meet the dad cat

The cat carries kittens in her teeth