One of the postpartum cat behaviors is to move their kittens to another location. Some even do it several times during the first days of the little ones. For what reason are they moved? Likewise, it is possible to find cats that take their young to their guardians without them understanding the reason for this behavior.
For all of the above, in this article on our site we are going to explain why cats move their kittens speaking, first, of the cat's instincts as a species, many of which are still present in domestic felines. In addition, we will detail why some cats take their children with their humans and what to do in each case.
Why do cats move their young?
To understand why female cats move their young after birth, you must first consider that your kitten is an independent animal that retains some of the instinctive habits of her wild relatives. While she enjoys the comforts, care and delicious meals that home life provides her, your cat is a small feline and shows it, for example, through her powerful hunting instinct and the way she cares for her kittens.
In the wild, when the time of delivery approaches, pregnant cats must seek a hiding place or refuge where they can be calm and safe to give birth to their puppies. And after giving birth, this female is particularly sensitive and must remain very alert to detect any threat and prevent predator attacks on the newborns. Thus, when they see strange movements or stimuli in their hiding place, cats move their young to ensure that they are always in a safe haven Similarly, cats they move the cubs to preserve the integrity of the newborn and the continuation of the species.
Because newborn cats cannot see or hear well, as they are born with plugged ears and closed eyes, they are especially vulnerable to attacks by opportunistic predators and depend on their parents for survival. This instinct, which is commonly known as ' maternal instinct', is essential for the survival of felines in the wild. After all, the continuity of a species depends on its ability not only to reproduce but also to generate new individuals strong enough to reach adulthood and generate their own offspring. That's why cats change puppies places.
Now then, there are no predators in our homes that can motivate feline mothers to make these changes, so why do female cats move their young? The answer is the same, they perceive some kind of threat to the kittens, which does not have to be the presence of a predator, and they decide to put them where they think they will be safest. For this reason, it is always recommended to establish the nest where the cat wants, to avoid these changes of space in the little ones once they are born.
Why does my cat bring me her kittens?
Another very common situation among cats that give birth at home is to observe that they constantly bring their kittens closer to the area where their trusted human is. One of the reasons is the one we have already explained, she does not consider that her cubs are safe in the nest and takes them with you because you you give her security She tries to find a place of the quiet and isolated house to move the little ones with their mother and guarantees that they like that place, otherwise, they may end up rejecting the little ones and stop feeding them. Another solution is to move the nest to the place where you spend more time, both to watch the little ones and make sure they eat well and to keep the mother calm.
On the other hand, a dependency relationshipmay also justify the cat taking her kittens with you. Although cats are excellent mothers, they are also animals that have earned a reputation for being independent, something that is not entirely true. It is true that they need to enjoy their own space and that they do not always want to receive our attention, but they do need attention, affection and pampering. Sometimes it happens that, without meaning to, the bond becomes so strong that the animal becomes totally dependent. This relationship of dependency can cause a cat that has just given birth to seek the company of her human at all times, causing her to move her kittens.
Why do female cats eat their young?
Although this attitude may seem very strange and even repulsive, it is a natural behavior that can be found in many species, not only in felines. Although there is no single reason why the cat eats the puppies after giving birth, generally the female does so because she considers that one or more puppies are fragile, have a deficiency or deformation and will not be able to survive in the wild. However, there are other reasons cats may engage in this behavior, such as:
- Stress
- Feline mastitis
- Lack of interest in caring for puppies
- Do not recognize puppies as yours
For more information on the causes and how to prevent this from happening, don't miss this other article: "Why do female cats eat their newborn kittens?"
At what age do female cats abandon their young?
There is no exact moment from which cats abandon their young. If your cat moves her kittens and you think he is doing it because he wants to abandon them, you have already seen that this is not the reason. When a cat decides to abandon her kittens for whatever reason, she just leaves them and walks away, she doesn't take care of them anymore
Now, if what you want to know is when to separate the kittens from their mother to give them up for adoption, the ideal is that you respect the natural weaning process, which usually begins after three weeks of life. At this time, you can start offering the little ones solid food moistened with water, allowing them to continue to eat breast milk. Little by little you will see that the mother herself will begin to reject them and the little ones will eat more solid food.
To learn the proper steps, don't miss this article: "Weaning cats, when and how?".
The importance of sterilization
Now that you know why cats move their young and have experienced firsthand what it means to have a litter of kittens, the care it requires and how complicated it can be to find a home for them, we recommend strongly value the option of neutered or spayed the cat This intervention will not only prevent you and the cat from going through this situation again, it also helps reduce the number abandonment and allows control of the feline population. Let's remember that shelters and shelters are full of kittens waiting for a home.
