Can cats accidentally kill their kittens?

Some mothers kill their kittens by mistake – it could either be a case of overenthusiastic grooming or unintentional trampling. However, these cases are very rare. Cats kill their kittens only if they feel very threatened or if they know that the kittens have very bleak chances of survival.

Do mother cats kill other kittens?

“It does happen,” says Dr. Houpt, “but its pretty rare. A cat may reject – sometimes kill – a kitten if its unresponsive.” Touching newborn or very young kittens will cause the mother to reject them.

Do male cats try to kill kittens?

In fact, it isn’t rare that feral male cats will kill kittens, especially if they aren’t the father. While there isn’t much reason for such behavior today, killing kittens is in male’s instincts. In the wilderness, male cats want to have as much offspring as possible. Sadly, this includes killing a rival’s offspring.

Will other cats harm newborn kittens?

While it is unlikely that newborn kittens will be attacked by their mother, another female, or even a tomcat, it can be crucial to provide a private and safe space for a cat to give birth and raise her babies. It is possible for issues surrounding territory or another perceived threat to provoke harm to kittens.

What do you do when a mother cat rejects kittens?

The mother may favor the stronger ones and reject the smaller, weaker ones. Once again, do not put rejected kittens back in the nest. Mother and kittens should see the vet as soon as possible. Rejected kittens should be bottle-fed and kept warm in the meantime.

Why do cats not like kittens?

They don’t hate the new cat — they are simply scared of him and need time to learn that the new cat is not a danger. If your resident cat was not properly socialized to his or her own species when young, or hasn’t seen another cat in a long time, it may take longer until he or she is comfortable with the new cat.