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

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

best wishes Kate

Comments for Why is my mum cat biting her kittens

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Why is my cat trying to bite her baby’s
by: Anonymous

My cat has just had 4 baby kittens she has been biting them idk what to do so I just grab my cat and put her in the laundry for about 5 mins then I sit and watch ti make sure nothing happens
My cat just did the same thing
by: Chantelle

The kittens are 4 days old and she really bit one to death. My son took them out and put them in bed with him.I had to take them away,And 9nt know what to do now
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by: Anonymous

i have 4 kittens. And the dad of the kittens is always visiting them. and one they i put the. kittens and the cat mom to the boxes, and the dad cat has entered the box too. and suddenly i hear the one of the kittens crying and i though it was just normal. and suddenly i check it and the dad cat go away. and i saw the 2 kittens died... WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY my adorable kitten just die like that LIKE WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAt
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by: Anonymous

Hi my house cat got out and got pregant she has been so good with her 4 babies now they are 3 weeks old ive seen her keep biting a specific one on the neck and even down the body doea anybody no why (ive never had kittys before so im new) tha k you

NOTE FROM SITE OWNER
Hi I believe this is normal. Please do a search of my site using the google search box in the right coloumn and search biting kittens, I'm sure you will find further information.
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by: Kimberley

So our cat gave birth, the baby is 1 day old and the sister of the mother was already laying with her before it was born.
The we had to remove the sister so the mother could give birth since she became really angry and the sister didnt listen.
So now this day the sister kept laying with the mom, licking the baby.
But then when the mom left she started biting on his head, body with his body in her whole mouth.
The baby squicked once.
But so she kept doing this and this is the sister from the mother.
So we moved the mother with baby back at night to the bedroom without the others being their.

We are itherwise afraid we dont hear the squicking.
She also went back in the box but left the baby so we put it back with her but then she starts looking in the cat bed again where we originally put her in after giving birth.

What is going on?
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by: Anonymous

My cat recently gave birth to 3 kittens. She’sa new mom but she doesn’t like to be around her babies as much as I thought she would be. I recently saw she saw biting the kittens at their necks. Sometimes she moves them around but other times she won’tlet go for no reason and I saw puncture wounds on one of them! I don’t think she’s feeding them as often as they should. What should I do
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We have a 4 week old baby kitten. So far everything has been good. All at once today while I was out in the kitchen, I turned around and there was mama and baby. All at once she started licking the baby and then started biting her all over and treating her like she was a chew toy. We separated the but don't know what to do.
Kitten care
by: Mia

In my experience with being a pet owner, I've had three different mother cats and have assisted in four different deliveries. If you've taken care of your mother cat personably then she will trust you. After delivery and all is cleaned up I've held the newborns so they know my scent and so they start to be domesticated from the start. It's kinda like teaching your baby to read at 2. The mothers have never shown any type of hostility or biting at the neck until now. The reason being is because the kitten would not stop bothering the mother. He kept on pouncing on her until she threw him off the cat tree. Possibly discipline.
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Why is mama cat biting baby cat?
by: Storm

She had only one kitten that the loved dearly and now that it is 5 months old they always seem to be fighting there are no injuries just mama cat moucey bits baby cat pepper and pepper yells really loud they are the same gender
Momma cat biting newborn baby
by: Sarah

Hi there!
I am a bit concerned, by 17 month old cat Charlie has just given birth two days ago 28\08\18 and all seems well other than the biting and she doesn't stay with the kitten all the time, she would much rather follow me or hubby around, she will go and check on the kitten and if its moving/crying she will go into it. she is letting the kitten nurse however sometimes when its simply nursing or when Charlie trys to clean the kitten fur\genetals the kitten starts loudly crying and squirming to get away and then Charlie starts to bite it neck/head/body quiet strongly do you think this is Charlie jut trying to keep kitten still? should I be concerned?

kind regards
Sarah
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by: Anonymous

My cat has has just had 6 kittens, but she keeps biting a specific kitten she was letting it feed and she groomed it why is she doing this?
Mum cat
by: Anonymous

Hi my mum cat was in heat for a WK mangered to get out of house for half a day she came back attacking me and her 8month old kittens she didnt like me touching her stomach does anyone know wat is going on thanks
Why my mother cat do not care for her left 4 day old kitty?
by: Krishna

My cat gave birth for a 3 cute kitties then after 3 days we found 2 dead kitties with a bite mark on their necks so the 1 kitty left was hidden by the mother cat inside our cabinet. After a few hours the kitten is crying maybe because of hunger but the mother cat do not care instead, she is meowing at me wants to be pet by me. So I moved her beside her left kitty she let her kitty feed on her but she then leave the kitty immediatly. So I moved her again to her kitty then I found that she is biting her kitty on the neck and tummy. So I stopped her and moved her away. I went downstairs then the mother cat followed me. And I came back upstairs and followed me again and heard her kitty was crying and moved beside the kitty with her own and licked it. Why she bite her kitty? Is it possible that she will bite them if I touched them?
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by: Anonymous

My cat recently had four kittens. I noticed when one of the kittens cried she would bite their neck. At first I got scared so I took her away for a little bit but when she came back she went back to nurturing and grooming them. I looked it up only but it seems she does this to teach them. The kittens had no marks on their necks so I assume she wasn't being aggressive but instead scolding her kittens for being too rowdy! 😸
Open wounds
by: Anonymous

I have 2 four week old kittens with open wounds on their necks. The marks look like either bite or scratch marks. We think from the mother picking them up to ruff. But not sure. My mom has been putting bag balm on the cuts and keeping the mother away for a few hours so she doesn't lick it off. I'm not sure what else to do as we can't afford to go to a vet. Please help.
kitten
by: rachel

My cat has had 4 kittens and she is biting them what does it mean
Mother biting kittens
by: Anonymous

Hi my cat had 4 kittens 4 days ago and I have just seen her biting them she is feeding them and cleaning them but I am scared for the kittens
Thank-you
by: Shannon Lee

Thankyou for your answer, i guess i was just a little bit scared as this is her first time being a mum!
Thankyou for your feedback and i will leave her alone, and just let her do her thing.
Thanks !! Shannon :)

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