Cat Acting Weird After Giving Birth

Congratulations! Your life has just been blessed with a bunch of cute & adorable little kittens and your Miss Whiskers is a Mom now! We know that you would be extremely happy and totally excited for this new and joyful chapter of both your and your cat’s life but lemme tell you that as exciting as it might seem to have newborn kittens in your home, it’s equally as challenging and attention demanding as well since you might start to notice your Cat Acting Weird After Giving Birth!

Now, these situations can get very confusing and panic-striking for many cat parents, especially for those who are inexperienced in dealing with such cases of their Cat Giving Birth.

And that’s why in Today’s article, we will talk all about your Cat’s behavior after giving birth and tell you all the reasons behind your Cat Acting Weird After Giving Birth! We will also answer all your frequently asked common questions about Mama Cats And Kittens as well while giving you a ton of valuable info about taking care of both the Newborn Kittens and their Mama Cat!

So, Fasten up your seatbelts my dear Cat Parents! Because you are up for an exciting read!

Without further ado, let’s Dive Right In!

Why Is My Cat Acting Weird After Giving Birth

Alright so, Some seemingly “Weird” Cat Behavior After Giving Birth Are…

• Cat Licking Her Newborn Kittens
• Mother Cat Sitting On Kittens
• Mother Cat Nuzzling & Purring Her Kittens
• Cat Keeping Her Distance From Humans
• Mother Cat Moving Her Kittens
• Mother Cat Calling Kittens
• Cat Acting Restless After Giving Birth
• Mama Cat Showing Aggression By Hissing & Growling

If you are noticing your Cat Acting Weird After Giving Birth in these ways then don’t worry, it’s totally fine & natural. These Cat Behaviors arise out of maternal love and anxiousness along with your Mama Cat’s deep caring and protective feeling towards her newborn kittens.

In fact, it’s often seen that Cats who give birth for the first time are more anxious and protective of their newborns than other more experienced kitties.

What you have to do is to make sure that you are maintaining a healthy distance from both the Mama Cat And Kittens. Also, never interrupt when you notice the Mama Cat moving the kittens around and never ever try to help her in doing so!

You see, Mother cats instinctively take care of their young and might also act stressed after giving birth. So, ensure that you provide your Mama cat and her Kittens with a comfortable, clean and spacious spot without any noises and external disturbances to prevent any chance of cat stress and fear.

And always keep in mind that these changes in the behavior of your cat after giving birth are totally natural and will continue for quite some time. But don’t worry since your cat will settle down to become normal again within a few weeks!

However, there are certain unnatural and worrisome Cat Behaviors after giving birth that you should be looking out for since they can be symptoms of some common and dangerous after birth cat diseases.

Let’s take a look at them now…

Cat Acting Weird After Giving Birth: Mother Cat Sick After Giving Birth

Lemme tell you that the majority of cats give birth to perfectly healthy kittens and don’t get sick after the delivery. But there are some feline diseases and Post-Pregnancy medical problems that your cat can be exposed to after giving birth.

Some of these most common Post-Pregnancy Cat Diseases which can be the reason behind your Cat Acting Weird After Giving Birth are…

• Dysgalactia
• Galactostasis
• Mastitis
• Eclampsia
• Metritis
• Post-Partum Hemorrhage

Let’s talk about these common Post-Pregnancy Feline Diseases one by one!

Dysgalactia In Cats

Dysgalactia is a feline medical condition in which the Mama Cat’s body is unable to produce enough milk to nurture all her kittens.

This cat disease usually happens due to the lack of necessary nutrients in the Cat’s Diet.

Common Symptoms of Dysgalactia In Cats are…

• Restless Kittens
• Mama Cat suffering from Diarrhea
• Redness on and Around the Mammary Glands
• Swollen Mammary Glands
• Kittens Losing Weight

If you see any of these signs & symptoms of Dysgalactia in the Mama Cat then consult a well qualified veterinarian immediately since this issue is detrimental to the health of both the Mama Cat and Kittens.

Moving on, let’s take a look at the next post-pregnancy cat disease that you need to keep an eye out for that can also lead to your Cat Acting Weird After Giving Birth.

Galactostasis In Cats

Swelling and Redness in one or more of the mammary glands due to excessive milk accumulation in the Mama Cat’s body is called Galactostasis.

Common symptoms of Galactostasis In Cats are-

• Redness In and Around the Mammary Gland
• Pain in the Mammary Gland
• Mammary Gland Soft To touch
• General Discomfort

If you see any signs and symptoms of Galactostasis in Cats then consult a vet immediately since your cat needs a lot of care after her pregnancy.

Mastitis In Cats

This is a medical condition in which Bacterial Infection gets infested in one or all of the mammary glands of the Mama Cat. It is often seen to be present in combination with Galactostasis in cats.

Mastitis is a very very serious and dangerous cat disease which can even cause malnutrition and death of kittens if not treated properly on time by a professional vet.

Some of the Symptoms of Mastitis in Cats are…

• Loss of Appetite
• Brown or Reddish Milk
• Discomfort
• Refusal To Nurse The Kittens
• Pain & Redness of the Mammary Glands
• Swelling in the Mammary Glands
• Mammary Glands too soft and Hot to touch
• Restlessness and stress

If you are able to identify any of these symptoms then give your vet a call immediately and take both the Mama Cat and Kittens to the emergency room asap since this is a very serious and dangerous medical condition!

Now, let’s take a look at the next Cat Disease that you need to watch out for since that might end up being the reason behind your Cat Acting Weird After Giving Birth.

Eclampsia In Cats

It is a very dangerous medical condition which is also called “Milk Fever” and is caused due to serious and rapid loss of calcium in the Mama Cat’s body!

This situation is very life threatening and your cat can die within hours if you don’t take her to the vet immediately on time!

Here are the most common symptoms of Eclampsia “Milk Fever” in Cats!

• High Fever
• Agitation
• Loss Of Appetite
• Inability To Walk Properly
• Excessive Panting
• Pale Gums
• Seizures
• Hypersalivation
• Muscle Spasms
• Lethargy and Stress

Take your Cat to the vet IMMEDIATELY if you identify any of these Milk Fever symptoms! It’s an extremely dangerous and life threatening situation from which your cat might recover if you take your cat to the vet on time! Because if you are quick enough, then the vets might still be able to replace the lost calcium in the Cat’s body.

Now, moving on to the next Post-Pregnancy Cat Disease which might be the reason behind your Cat Acting Weird After Giving Birth…

Metritis In Cats

It’s a common Bacterial Infection in the cat’s Uterus which can’t be left untreated.

Common symptoms of Metritis are…

• Fever
• Appetite Loss
• Cat Refusing to Nurse the Kittens
• Restlessness
• Lethargy And Stress
• General Discomfort

Take your cat to the vet if you see these signs of Metritis. The doctors will take good care of your kitty and will be able to cure the Bacterial Infection in her Uterus.

Now, let’s talk about the last common post-pregnancy cat disease which might be the reason for your Cat Acting Strange After Giving Birth…

Postpartum Hemorrhage In Cat

It is a medical condition which requires immediate medical attention as it can turn fatal for the Mama Cat!

What happens is that the vagina of the Mama Cat starts to Hemorrhage a lot of blood which makes the kitty very stressed and weak.

Common symptoms of Postpartum Hemorrhage In Cats are…

• High Fever
• Loss Of Appetite
• Reluctance To Nurse
• Weakness
• Lethargy
• Vomiting
• Vaginal Bleeding

Visit the vet immediately if you see any of these symptoms of Postpartum Hemorrhage in your cat! This is an extremely serious medical condition which requires immediate treatment.

With all that said, keep an eye out for these post-pregnancy cat diseases and now, let’s take a look at how to take care of your cat after she has given birth!

Cat Acting Weird After Giving Birth: How To Take Care Of The Mama Cat

Taking care of the Mama Cat and her Kittens is both a heavenly beautiful and extremely challenging task for us cat parents.

And when it comes to actually doing it, many Cat Parents find themselves in a situation where they are just confused and don’t know where to even begin!

Relax! Because this is where we come in to help you guys out in taking the best care of your Cat who has just given birth to those adorable little kittens!

Here is a list of all the essential things that You must be doing for the Mama Cat…

• Create A Safe Place For The Mama Cat

  You must keep the Mama Cat and Kittens in a safe, Interruption free room separated from the rest of the house. There should be no dirt and disturbance in that room and it should be totally noise-free as well!

• Keep Hazardous Material Out Of Reach!

  Hazardous Materials like electric cords, rubber bands, yarns and house cleaners like bleach should always be left out of the reach of both the Mama Cat and Kittens for ensuring their total safety!

• Don’t let any other animals go into the Mama Cat’s room!

  Even if you have a friendly companion pet like a good dog or another well behaved kitty, it’s still best to keep them away from the Mama Cat’s room to avoid any potential fights between them. Mama Cats are always very protective of their newborns and act aggressively if they find other animals interrupting them. So it’s best to leave the Mama Cat and Kittens alone in their sanctuary without any external disturbance!

• Use Kitten Safe Litter

  Kitten Safe Litter and Food Boxes ensure the total safety and well being of both the Mama Cat and Kittens! So, use them and always keep them away from the reach of the newborn kittens.

• Maintain Cleanliness

  The Mama Cat’s room should remain clean and dust free at all times to ensure that there is no contamination of any sort and a hygienic environment is maintained. Always keep in mind that newborn kittens have an underdeveloped weak immune system which makes them extremely susceptible to viral and bacterial infections. So, it’s extremely important and crucial to maintain proper hygiene and cleanliness in the Mama Cat and Kitten’s room!

So, these were the few totally important things that you just have to keep in mind while taking care of the Mama Cat And Kittens!

Now, let’s move on to talk about how to take care of those sweet and adorable newborn kittens.

How To Take Care Of Newborn Kittens

You see, when it comes to taking care of those cute & adorable baby kittens, 90% of the Job is done by the Mama Cat and you don’t have to interrupt the natural process of Kitten Care.

However, you do need to do some co-parenting to support the proper nurturing of the newborns by making sure that they are provided the best and healthiest environment to grow up in.

Here is a list of some essential things that you should be doing to ensure the proper nurturing of those cute & adorable baby kittens!

• Keep The Kittens Warm

  Newborn kittens can’t thermoregulate & need external heat sources for comfort. Most of the time, the Mama Cat will keep her babies warm with her own body heat by cuddling up with them and sitting on them. But still make sure that you have warm blankets and heat pads ready for both the Mama Cat and Kittens.

• Create A Comfy & Spacious Nesting Box

  Both the Mama Cat and Kittens should be given a large enough space to stretch and lay down comfortably while sleeping as well as while resting. Provide a good comfortable nesting box which is both warm and cozy while being spacious and comfy!

• Monitor The Weight Of The Kittens

  It’s extremely important to weigh the kittens at least 2-3 times a day to ensure that they are getting enough nutrition and are on a healthy track! Weight tracking is the #1 indication of a kitten’s health. If your kittens are healthy and are gaining weight, then it means they are well fed and totally healthy. But if you find them losing weight, then this is a sign of the kittens not being fed enough which can be a sign of malnutrition in the kittens and mammary gland diseases in the Mama Cat! Consult the vet immediately if you find that your kittens are losing weight!

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• Maintain Proper Hygiene

  Never ever touch the newborn kittens with unwashed dirty hands or keep unsanitized unclean substances near them! Always take care of hygiene so that there is no chance of any sort of infectious contamination in the Mama Cat’s room. Remember that newborn kittens have a very weak immune system and are prone to viral and bacterial infections. So, maintain proper cleanliness and hygiene while dealing with those sensitive cute kittens!

• Interact With the Kittens Regularly

  Handle and Interact with the kittens at least once or twice a day to ensure that the kittens develop a fondness for humans and get introduced to you. Doing this will ensure that they end up loving you just the way you love them!

• Ensure Vaccination

  Make sure that you are getting the kittens properly vaccinated and dewormed by the vet! Vaccination & Deworming is absolutely essential for the long term health and wellness of the kittens and ensures that they live a long happy disease free life.

So, These are the important things that you need to do for ensuring that both the Mama Cat and Kittens are being provided with the best living and growing conditions! Remember that you don’t have to interrupt the natural order of Kitten Nurturing, you just have to aid it!

Now, let’s answer some of the most common and frequently asked questions about Mother Cat With Her Kittens Behavior!

Will A Mother Cat Abandon Her Kittens If Touched By Humans

One of the most common questions that people keep asking us is Will A Mother Cat Abandon Her Kittens If You Touch Them?.

And to answer that in a single word… NO! A Mother Cat won’t abandon her Kittens just because you or any other human being touches them.

You see, this myth of Mother Cats Abandoning Her Kittens If Touched By Humans is one of the biggest misconceptions among both Cat Parents and the general public.

Mama Cats just don’t care if you touch their kittens or decide to play with them and she is NOT gonna abandon her kittens for this! In fact, it’s essential for you to touch and play with the newborn kittens at least once or twice to develop a fondness towards humans in them early on. This way, the baby kittens end up becoming familiar with you and loving you just the way their Mama Cat loves you.

However, sometimes you might notice the Mama Cat Moving Kittens after you touch them, if you see that happening, then it simply means that the Mama Cat is being possessive & overprotective which is quite normal in a lot of Mama Cats, especially among those who have given birth for the first time.

Now, to sum up the question of Will A Mother Cat Abandon Her Kittens If Touched By Humans, the answer is just NO, she won’t!

So relax and play with those adorable sweet buns and let’s move on to the next question…

How To Tell If A Mother Cat Has Abandoned Her Kittens

Mother Cats usually abandon their kittens if she starts thinking that they have a lower chance of survival or if she detects a Viral or Bacterial Infection in one or more of them.

What happens is that the Mama Cats are super protective of their young and if any one of those kittens develops an infection, then that one becomes a threat to all the others! So, in order to protect all the children, the Mama Cat decides to isolate and abandon that one infected kitten in order to prevent the disease from spreading to his siblings.

Other times, the Mama Cat might also “Abandon” her kittens and refuse to nurse them if she develops a Post-Pregnancy Feline Disease like Mastitis or Metritis.

If you identify any of these signs, then it might be a signal that the Mother Cat has in fact, abandoned her kittens…

• Dirty & Ungroomed Kittens
• Crying Kittens
• Kittens Losing Weight
• Mama Cat Showing Disease Symptoms like Mammary Gland Swelling
• Mama Cat Carrying One Kitten Away From All Others

If you find any of these signs and notice that the Mama Cat has Abandoned her Kittens, then rush to the vet immediately since it can be a sign of serious medical infections and diseases in either the Mama Cat or the Kittens!

Now, let’s move onto the next question of How Long Can A Cat Be Away From Her Kittens…

How Long Can A Cat Be Away From Her Kittens

It is seen that the age of the kittens determine exactly How Long Can A Cat Be Away From Her Kittens.

At 1-3 Weeks old, the Mama Cat won’t leave the kittens alone at all and she will only go away from them for eating and littering. You will notice her going away for very short time periods and coming back very quickly!

And at 3-6 weeks old, the babies start to grow a bit more independent and the mama cat becomes more comfortable in leaving them alone for a few hours. She will usually go away to do her own cat activities while the kittens play around.

Now at 6-8 weeks old, the kittens become very mature and totally independent! This is the age at which the Mama Cat starts teaching them the Lifestyle of A Cat and you will also notice your cat leaving them for quite some time now.

You see, kittens ideally stay with their Mama Cat till the age of at least 12 weeks because after that they turn into young mature cats themselves and are no longer baby kittens anymore.

At that stage, the kittens become mature enough to take care of their own selves and the Mama Cat leaves them alone on their own. However, she is still going to look after them and take care of them for the rest of their life like a good Mama Cat!

So, summing up, this was your answer to the question of How Long Can A Cat Be Away From Her Kittens.

Moving on, let’s talk about How Long Does It Take For A Mother Cat To Forget Her Kittens

How Long Does It Take For A Mother Cat To Forget Her Kittens

If the Mama Cat was separated from her kittens for any reason, then it will take at least 10-12 weeks after giving birth for her to forget about them.

However, The Mama Cat might still miss her young and might become stressed or even depressed. At this stage, she will become more clingy of their owners and would require extra care & show of affection.

If the kittens are still with her then it will take at least 8-12 weeks for the mother cat to become confident enough to leave her kittens alone since the kittens usually become mature enough to take care of themselves. So, the Mama Cat tends to ‘forget’ about taking active care of them 24/7.

However, the Mama Cat will still keep a close check on her young and will be ever ready to support them in all walks or their feline lives!

Now, let’s discuss a bit about Mother Cat Calling Kittens.

Mother Cat Calling Kittens

Mother Cats make a lot of ‘Chirr’ or ‘Chirrup’ noises for Calling her Kittens.

You see, Cats are very intelligent and know how to communicate with both humans and other animals. And this way of making weird chirrup sounds is just a mode of communication between both the Mama Cat and Kittens.

You will also find that the Mama Cat is frequently meowing at her kittens as well to communicate with them.

Now, you don’t have to worry at all about this behavior of Mother Cat Calling Kittens since it is totally natural and healthy!

So, let’s discuss about the activity of Mother Cat Carrying Kittens

Mother Cat Carrying Kitten

You see, Mother Cats usually grab their kittens by the neck to carry them. This is because kittens have a reflex action in which their bodies go totally limp when picked up by the scruff part on the back of their necks. However, this reflex action fades away with the onset of Adolescence.

Now, if you ask why the Moth Cat keeps moving her kittens around by Carrying them like this, then the answer is that she is being protective of her kittens and wants to hide their smell from predatory animals. Moreover, it might also be because the Mama Cat might be feeling that the current spot isn’t the most clean & comfy for herself and her kittens.

Mama Cats usually start moving their kittens at 2 weeks of age and you don’t have to worry too much about it since this behavior is totally natural and normal.

Now, let’s talk about Why Does Mother Cat Move Only One Kitten…

Why Does Mother Cat Move Only One Kitten

Most of the time, if you notice the Mama Cat Move Only One Kitten away from all others, then it is a sign of something being wrong with that one kitten.

What happens is that the kittens have a very weak immune system which makes them extremely vulnerable to life threatening Viral and Bacterial Infections!

And when the Mother Cat identifies or senses that one of her kittens has been infected with a viral or bacterial disease, she picks that kitten up and totally isolates him from everyone else by moving him to another location so that the infection doesn’t spread to anyone else.

This is an attempt of the Mother Cat to save all her kittens from the infectious disease by isolating and abandoning the infected kitten.

Now, if you are noticing the Mother Cat Moving Only One Kitten away from everyone else, then pick that isolated kitten up and head straight to the vet immediately since that kitten might be infected! Also, tell the vet to do a thorough checkup of both the Mama Cat and All her Kittens to make sure that no one else is infected.

So, let us move onto the topic of Mother Cat Sitting On Kittens

Mother Cat Sitting On Kittens

If you are noticing the Mother Cat Sitting On Kittens then relax and don’t worry since it is a totally natural and normal behavior.

What happens is that the bodies of newborn kittens are unable to produce their own heat due to the incapability of carrying out Thermoregulation. That’s why they depend upon external heat sources for staying warm and most of the time, that external heat is provided by the Mother Cat.

So, in order to provide enough warmth to their kittens using their body heat, the Mother Cat sits on her kittens and also cuddles up with them.

This behavior is totally normal and kinda cute so you don’t have to worry about it at all!

Now, let’s talk about What To Feed A Nursing Mother Cat!

What To Feed A Nursing Mother Cat

Nursing Mother Cats need a lot of nutrients in their meals to stay healthy and that’s why you need to follow a very healthy and strict dietary regime for taking care of them.

A Nursing Mother Cat must be fed several times a day with good quality food that fulfills all their nutritional needs.

And because of that, premium quality kitten formula food is highly recommended for a Nursing Mother Cat since it fulfills all the major nutritional demands of her body.

Moreover, you can also try to give stuff like Chicken, Canned Tuna and Salmon to your cat to fulfill her dietary demands.

Now, here is a small list of things which you can feed a Nursing Mother Cat! Hope it gives you an idea of What To Feed A Nursing Mother Cat…

• Salmon
• Chicken
• Eggs
• Oatmeal
• Bananas
• Canned Tuna
• Turkey
• Bacon
• Shrimp
• Ham
• Lettuce
• Spinach
• Cat Food
• Premium Quality Kitten Formula

This list will help you in getting the idea of exactly What To Feed A Nursing Mother Cat!

And keep in mind that a Nursing Mother Cat needs 2.5 times more calories a day than a normal cat to stay healthy! So, don’t hesitate to give her bigger meal proportions.

You must also consult your vet regarding What To Feed A Nursing Mother Cat! They will recommend the best things for your kitty.

So, let’s now move on to answer the question of How To Tell If Mother Cat Is Feeding Kittens

How To Tell If Mother Cat Is Feeding Kittens

Here is a list of signs which will Tell If Mother Cat Is Feeding Kittens..

• Happy Kittens! If you notice that the kittens are looking happy and playful, then that means they are well fed!

• Increase In Kitten Weight. When the newborns are well fed by the Mama Cat, they tend to increase in size and gain weight. So, if you find your kittens gaining weight, then that means they are properly fed.

• Less Fur Around The Mother Cat’s Nipples. If you see that there is a lack of fur around the nipples of the Mama Cat, then it is a sign of well fed kittens since they tend to bite the fur off of their mum while drinking the milk.

• Milk Residue Around The Kittens’ Mouth. Well fed kittens often tend to have a bit of milk residue on their face before their mums clean them up.

• Mammary Glands Of The Mother Cat Looking Soft and Swollen. If the mammary glands of the mother cat are looking soft then it is a sign of the mother cat having enough milk in her body to feed all her kittens.

So, these were the top signs of well fed kittens which will answer your question of How To Tell If Mother Cat Is Feeding Kittens!

Now, let’s move onto the next question of When Will A Mother Cat Bring Her Kittens Out

When Will A Mother Cat Bring Her Kittens Out

Cat Pregnancy lasts for 60-63 Days and it will take at least 60 days for the Mother Cat To Bring Her Kittens Out.

A Kitten should ideally stay with its mother until the age of 12-14 weeks. Usually, a Mother Cat Will Bring Her Kittens Out in the open once they become 6-8 weeks old since at that age, they become mature enough to start learning a Cat’s Lifestyle.

So, you will notice the Mother Cat Calling Kittens and teaching them a bunch of stuff about How To Be A Good Cat!

However, the kittens must remain under the protective guidance of their mothers until the age of 12-14 weeks.

Mother Cat Swollen Mammary Glands

Swollen and Soft Mammary Glands in Mother Cats is a sign of adequate milk available in their body to nurse all their kittens.

However, it can also be a big and major symptom of Post-Pregnancy Cat Diseases like Dysgalactia, Galactostasis and Mastitis about which we have already discussed before!

It should be checked up by a vet immediately to rule out any possibility of any disease! Always remember that the early detection of such medical conditions is the key towards the quick recovery and the long term health of your kitty.

So, with all that said and done, we hope you enjoyed today’s article about Cat Acting Weird After Giving Birth! Now before you leave, make sure to check out more awesome content below!

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