The cat ate newborn kittens: reasons. What to do to prevent a cat from eating newborn kittens?

In the animal world, an unpleasant and even shocking, in human judgment, situation can happen when a cat eats kittens. Sometimes this happens as soon as the offspring are born, and sometimes the mother cat does this some time after giving birth. Such a fate can befall one kitten, and sometimes all of them at once... In this article we will look at the natural and pathological causes of cannibalism in cats. Why can a cat eat its kitten? Is this an accident or a pattern? Is it necessary to treat this condition of the animal? In this material we will answer these and other questions and talk about the main reasons for this phenomenon.

Natural causes

Sometimes adult animals harm the baby when they bite the umbilical cord. This happens due to negligence and carelessness. It happens that immediately after giving birth, a cat eats her newborn kittens if the babies were born non-viable.

The kitten was born sick or dead

If the baby dies during childbirth or in utero, the mother cat eats it immediately after birth along with the placenta. She does this in order to quickly restore strength. In addition, cats are clean animals, so it is important for them to get rid of dead litter before it begins to decompose in the nest.

A sad fate awaits kittens born with congenital pathologies. Cats have a well-developed instinct, so they accurately determine which kitten is completely healthy and which has problems. The animal spends energy feeding only healthy babies who can continue the family. Therefore, you should not be surprised when a well-fed and healthy cat kills its kittens. Most often, there is a rational explanation for such actions.

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Exhaustion of the cat

During pregnancy, the animal's body is subjected to serious stress. Fruits ripening in the womb require a lot of nutrients and vitamins. Cats spend a lot of energy bearing kittens. Not everyone receives high-quality, balanced nutrition during pregnancy.

After giving birth, the animal is so exhausted that it sees no other solution than to eat its offspring. Newborn kittens are a source of protein, which pregnant individuals lack most of all.

To exclude such situations, owners need to especially carefully monitor the diet of their pregnant pet. Veterinarians say that cases of feline cannibalism associated with emaciation are common in stray animals that are malnourished. Exhaustion caused by pregnancy often has a negative impact on the psyche. There were situations when a cat ate her kittens after each birth, leaving not a single baby alive.

Interesting!

Street cats often attack kittens in order to reserve the right to territory in the future.

Why does a cat eat kittens?

if it happened that someone else’s cat bit the kitten, most likely there was intent on the part of the cat

We talked about cats. Now let's focus on cats. Why do cats kill kittens? Do daddy cats eat their kittens? Why do they do this and how often does this actually happen? Let's figure it out.

According to reliable information from open sources, it becomes clear that cats rarely kill kittens and mostly through negligence, by crushing or strangling them. Therefore, if in your house there is a mother with offspring, an adult cat and no other males, there is nothing particularly to worry about. However, like cats, some males inherit cannibalism. So, could it happen that the cat killed the kitten because he was a cannibal? Unfortunately yes. Can a cat bite a kitten for this reason? Yes too. If a cat killed a kitten, can it be said that hereditary cannibalism was the cause? Most likely this is true. But statements that an adult cat is capable of killing kittens considering them to be future competitors, due to the lack of paternal affection, or will strive to kill kittens from a competing cat are groundless and have not been confirmed. The situation is completely different, if someone else’s cat killed a kitten, there may indeed be intent. But it is not based on competition, as is typical, for example, of lions; most likely, if a cat killed kittens from another father, this has nothing to do with their father, but with their mother. In this way, the cat provokes the cat into a new heat as soon as possible, in order to cover her up. After all, while the female has kittens, she most likely will not breed, but by killing one or all of the cat’s offspring at once, the cat will have a chance.

Daddy cats

Fathers sometimes behave even more strangely than mothers. Experts are trying to understand what the problem is.

Fighting for the cat's attention. Cats understand that after giving birth a “woman” will be completely captivated by her offspring, so they try in every possible way to get rid of their rivals. After the death of the babies, the mother quickly resumes estrus and is again ready to mate.
All the best for your children. This is clearly demonstrated by cats in nurseries, eating other people's cubs and making room in the sun for their own.
The struggle for leadership. Just as cats determine the viability of kittens, cats clearly distinguish babies of their own sex. Destroy the leader, the leader - this is the goal of the dad cat. This is especially evident in the case of pets.

Cannibalism is characteristic not only of cats, but also of many other animals. Some of them regulate the population in this way, others demonstrate an example of natural selection. It looks wild with pets, so you can only prevent your pet’s inappropriate behavior by taking care of her before and during childbirth.

Feasibility of treatment and prevention

In order to prevent your cat from eating her kittens, you should create comfortable conditions for the expectant mother. Place the baby box in a dark place. Prepare for childbirth approximately 2 weeks in advance. If, shortly after the birth of the cubs, you see a cat eating them, urgently isolate the offspring from the pet. Give them some colostrum on the first day. Then after some time attach it to the mother. If even then the pet behaves aggressively, you will have to care for the babies yourself.

Similar article: Description of the stages and duration of estrus in cats

Features of caring for a pregnant animal

Those who want to understand why cats eat their kittens need to learn how to properly monitor their pet. It is advisable to carry out deworming and vaccination shortly before mating, since no medications should be given to a pregnant animal. In the event of an unexpected illness, your pet must be taken to the veterinarian.

In general, caring for a cat expecting offspring comes down to providing her with complete rest and adequate nutrition. If the basis of your pet’s diet is dry food, then it is recommended to consult with a specialist which one is suitable for a pregnant cat. If she eats natural products, then you need to include carrots, egg yolk, chicken, buckwheat or rice in her menu.

It is also important to ensure that the animal does not jump from high cabinets and does not come into contact with street relatives. It is better not to let him out of the house during this period in order to prevent the possible development of infectious diseases. Experienced cat owners advise preparing the place for birth in advance. It is advisable to choose a quiet, warm and cozy corner for this.

Calm down or protect from danger

The psychology of the cat family is radically different from that of humans, and yet, in some ways we are similar. These animals, just like people, have their own methods of raising and protecting babies from danger.

Where a human mother would slap a naughty fidget on the butt, a cat mother will in the same way tell her baby how not to behave by biting the scruff of the neck. She can punish the kitten if it gets too excited and runs around, ceasing to notice everything around it. And also if the baby, being in a playful mood, climbs up to her, and in the meantime she tries to take a nap and replenish her strength.

A cat is capable of biting the skin of kittens that are trying to get out of the nest if she thinks that it is too early for them to do this. She will definitely claw her by the scruff of the neck or even hiss threateningly, not letting her onto the balcony, which, in her opinion, can be dangerous for furry fidgets.

You don’t have to worry if you notice how the mother stands over the baby and then takes his scruff in her mouth, then lets go. There is a high probability that at this moment she is not trying to harm him, but, on the contrary, wants to move him to a safe place. She just can't do it for some reason. Probably, the pet cannot figure out how best to lift it so as not to harm it. This sometimes happens, however, after several attempts, as a rule, the cat copes with the task.

Rejection of foreign odor

In the case where a cat bites its offspring, and at the same time was previously picked up on the street or has access there for walks, this is a very bad sign. The fact is that such animals always remain semi-wild and their natural instincts are more acute than those of fully domesticated pets. Here, the reason for aggression towards one’s own offspring can be a foreign smell on the kittens.

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How to feed without a cat

Caring for newborn kittens will not be easy, because you need not only time and patience, but also certain knowledge. From our article today you will learn how to feed a kitten without a cat.

To feed a newborn pet, you will need a special mixture. Today, pet stores and veterinary pharmacies offer a wide range of artificial nutrition for pets, starting from the first days of life.

Please note that it is not recommended to give kittens formula or cow's milk. Cow product and baby food have a completely different percentage of fat content and a different chemical composition that does not meet the life standards of a small kitten.

Many people are interested in how to breed formula to feed a newborn kitten. Often, the dosage (how much water is needed for a certain amount of mixture to obtain a ready-to-use product) is indicated by the manufacturer in the instructions for use. It is also necessary to know the norms and number of meals: a kitten that is not yet a week old eats less, but more often than a 2-month-old baby.

Making the mixture at home will not be difficult if you strictly follow the recommendations of the manufacturer or veterinarian. The finished mixture is heated to 36 °C, poured into a syringe without a needle or a pipette and brought to the newborn’s face. In order for a blind kitten to lick drops of milk, it is necessary to provoke its animal instinct to feed. Before feeding, the mother cat licks her offspring, therefore the refuse kitten must be carefully stroked on the body and head.

To avoid problems with the digestive system, do not forget to carefully massage your pet’s tummy: lightly stroking the abdominal cavity in a clockwise direction is enough.

Until kittens reach two weeks of age, the frequency of meals is every two hours. Then the babies are transferred to 8 meals a day, which greatly facilitates the process of caring for cat offspring. Gradually, the syringe is replaced with a special bottle for feeding kittens, which can be purchased at a veterinary kiosk.

When a kitten is one month old, it can feed itself by lapping up formula from a shallow bowl.

The essence of the problem

In females, the instinct of motherhood is always highly developed. There are many cases where a mother cat sacrificed her life to protect her babies. And if a mother destroys her offspring, then there is an explanation for this strange behavior, in our opinion.

The mother cat is responsible for the kittens born. When she realizes that she has little milk and for some reason she will not be able to feed all the babies, the mechanism of natural selection comes into play. The mother chooses the strongest and most viable ones. If in nature a cat can abandon her cub, then at home she does not have the opportunity to do this, and in order not to prolong the kitten’s torment, she eats the baby.

During childbirth, you should be careful not to pick up kittens, as they will have a foreign smell, and the mother may perceive them as strangers. Even a cat can destroy cubs. Therefore, the female often hides her “nest”. One of the reasons may be the stimulation of the female into estrus, since if the offspring dies, then estrus occurs immediately.

What care will be required

Newborn babies abandoned by a cat need not only nutrition, but also special care. First of all, it is necessary to ensure that the air temperature meets the standards. So, at first, a week-old kitten feels comfortable in a room where the air temperature is in the range of 29…32 °C.

It is also important to monitor the cleanliness of the cat’s “nest” and the hygiene of small kittens. Remember to thoroughly wash feeding bottles and change diapers used as bedding. Unsanitary conditions can lead to the development of dangerous diseases.

How to understand that a mother can kill a kitten?

A potential killer mother avoids her newborn babies in every possible way.
To prevent the possibility of eating kittens, you need to carefully monitor the behavior of the expectant mother. On the eve of birth, the animal becomes nervous. Behaves inappropriately. After the birth of small kittens, the cat does not find a place for itself. Instead of feeding them and licking their fur, she runs away and hides. Mom is too hyperactive. A cat kills kittens if there are strange animals in the house. Sometimes this is done immediately, and sometimes after several hours or even days.

What measures should be taken to prevent a cat from eating newborn kittens?

We don’t know how a cat that just gave birth will behave. But based on some signs, it can be assumed that she is capable of destroying offspring. This can happen if the cat is hyperactive and is not constantly with the kittens, running away from them. In addition, kittens are at risk when access to them is open to other cats.

Kids

Is the deviation treatable?

Cannibalism in cats is often caused not by health problems, but by instincts. For some, the reason lies in hereditary predisposition. If a mother in labor kills a live kitten, then there is a possibility that her child will do the same. But this behavior can be caused by pathological factors. Mental illnesses and hormonal imbalances provoke a cat to eat kittens. In such cases, an experienced and knowledgeable veterinarian prescribes special medications to eliminate the disease.

Pathological causes

Some cats eat newborn kittens for reasons other than natural ones. Sometimes the animal does this because after pregnancy severe disorders began to develop.

Hormonal disbalance

Immediately after conception, colossal changes occur in the animal’s body, including hormonal ones. In such situations, some cats simply do not understand that they have given birth to kittens. Animals aggressively perceive the offspring and eat it immediately after birth.

A similar situation can occur in cats who have had a caesarean section. Outside interference disrupts the natural process of childbirth. A serious malfunction occurs in the animal’s body, under the influence of which the cat eats the kittens.

Mental pathologies

The birth of kittens is an intimate process that each cat experiences differently. If the comfort conditions at the time of childbirth are violated, the female experiences severe stress, which negatively affects her psycho-emotional health.

During childbirth, it is better to protect your pet from strangers and objects. Otherwise, the animal will begin to worry and inadequately perceive the ongoing event.

Interesting!

After giving birth, felinologists do not recommend holding babies in your arms, because this can “interrupt” the natural smell. Cats perceive foreign scents aggressively, so they immediately destroy such kittens.

To prevent a mother cat from eating newborns, it is important for the owner to create the most comfortable living conditions and carefully monitor the nutrition of the pregnant pet. It is advisable to install the baby box in a quiet, secluded place so that the expectant mother is not disturbed by extraneous animals and sounds.

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If the cat does not want to be in the place chosen by the owner, it is better to rearrange the box or keep track of where the pet most often spends time. If during childbirth the animal nevertheless begins to eat kittens, you should urgently isolate the offspring, and after a while try to put them back. If a cat hisses and lunges at the kids, it is better not to risk their lives by starting to care for them yourself.