Why is my mum cat biting her kittens

by Shannon Lee
(Te-anau)

My cat had recently given birth to four kittens, she started nursing them and looking after them like every good mother should. She didn't mind when we touched them so we thought it would be okay to take the box out to the lounge so i could show them to my friends. The mother cat then found her kittens and she must have thought they weren't hers or something because she started to bite their necks. The kittens were crying so it must have been hurting them.We took the mother cat away from them for a few minutes then we let her back in to see them. She was fine, she let them feed and looked after them like nothing had happenned.The next day i heard the kittens crying so i went to have a look and she was doing it again; biting their necks. I growled at her but then i realised she was only biting their necks when the kittens meowed. Maybe it is some form or parenting like she is growling at them for being naughty as such. Can anyone please help me as to why she might be doing this??

Thankyou :)

Answer from Kate
Hi

It is unlikely that she is biting them in an aggressive way. Often this sort of behavior is associated with discipline but it can also be the way she moves them around by picking them up by the neck.

Kittens will cry all the time especially if they are very young.

Check your kittens necks to make sure there are no puncture wounds etc and if not then I really wouldn't worry and allow the queen to take care of her family and teach them all the things a good mum cat should.

The first 7 weeks of a cats life is very important for so many reasons, socialization being one of them. I have some web pages about kitten care and this issue too which you may find to be of further interest and help. Here is the first page

http://www.our-happy-cat.com/raising-kittens.html

best wishes Kate