Deformity or illness in cats
It is heartwarming to witness a cat caressing and feeding her kittens. Cats are supposed to nurse and care for their kittens from about 8 to 11 weeks. However, in some cases, cats reject one or more of their kittens. Some pet owners ruminate on how their cats abandon their young ones. This guide will walk you through a few reasons why cats reject their kittens.
Cats will reject kittens that are born with deformities or illnesses. They do this to avoid spreading the disease to other healthy kittens. They also reject kittens with deformities in the limbs and spine. Kittens with low weight and diseases like anemia are likely to be rejected as the mother senses that they might not survive.
Nutrition
A mother cat who is underweight and has poor nutrition before or after giving birth is likely to reject her kittens. This is mainly because the mother will be able to provide adequate milk to her babies. Also, when a cat gives birth to more than 8 kittens, she rejects the extra babies as she can only feed 8 kittens.
Mastitis
Some cats develop mastitis as which happens when kittens spontaneously scratch the tissue when feeding. The nipples may swell or become hard which makes it painful for the kittens to feed. As a result, the mother avoids the babies to avoid them suckling the painful breasts.
A premature mother cat
Some cats give birth when they have not fully developed maternal instincts. These cats are confused and stressed after giving birth. In such situations, these cats abandon all their kittens. It is important to give these mothers compassion and extra care so that they can easily overcome the challenge.
Hard labor
Even though motherhood is precious, the labor may be long and hard for some cats. A cat rejects her kittens if she had a long and painful labor. Also, a mother can reject her babies if she was traumatized during delivery. For instance, if a mother feels she did not give birth in a safe place, she may reject her kittens.
Kitten size
Kitten size is another reason why a cat rejects her babies. If she gives birth to big kittens, she rejects some of them so that she can be able to provide enough milk to her young ones. This is because big kittens need a lot of milk and frequent breastfeeding.
Leaving the nest
Sometimes the mother leaves the kittens alone in the nest and wanders to find food. The kittens may leave the nest and get lost or get stuck in places where the mom cannot rescue them. Since the mother cannot be able to save the kitten, she abandons it as she has other kittens to take care of.
Motherhood is fun but also challenging. Take great care of these mothers as you would take care of any other nursing mother. Armed with the above 7 reasons you will know why your cat is rejecting her kittens. Also, you will know what to do is she abandons her kittens.