Strange behaviour in mum cat

by louise
(england)

Year old Rosie has five kittens. They are almost 4 weeks, and Rosie mewows a lot around them. And I mean constant mewowing - drives me mad!

Anyway, that I'm tolerating (I know what she's feeling. I wanted to make loud noises when I had children), but now she's picking up her kittens and placing them close to our male (neutered), older cat, who growls at them.

I daren't trust him alone with them because of his aggression (although he's done nothing other than growl), but Rosie doesn't seem bothered by his anti-social behaviour, and keeps bringing him kittens!

Answer by Kate
well this is strange and I must admit I haven't come across this before.

As kittens get older the mother cat will start to givbe them lessons in life and perhaps her taking them to the male is part of that training (why who knows). She may also be bringing them to him as gifts and is seeking attention from him. As she is so young herself she will still be very playful and full of energy herself and perhaps she is seeking to play with the male cat and is using the kittens as asort of peace offering.

His growling is not really a sign of aggression towards the kittens but is probably more os irritaion i.e he wants to be left alone and is not happy with being bothered by the active kittens. Growling is more a warning sound to say keep away.

If i were you I would try and distract your female cat from this behavior by giving her lots of interesting and stimulating things to do (she may be bored with just being a mum) I have a web page about keeping indoor cats stimulated which you may find or interest
https://www.our-happy-cat.com/indoor-cats.html

best wishes Kate

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