Dealing with a Nursing Cat Ignoring Kitten: What to Do?

Common Reasons Why Cats Neglect Their Kitten After Giving Birth:

1. Exposure to Foreign Scents

When kittens are born and have been touched by others, they may carry the unfamiliar scent of humans. This can lead to a mother cat not recognizing her offspring. Cats are highly sensitive creatures and might perceive these scents as a threat, causing her to abandon the kittens. In such cases, the owner can try rubbing a little of the mother cat's urine on the kittens, then attempt to reintroduce them. If this fails, artificial feeding may be necessary.

2. Safety Precautions

After giving birth, some mother cats may walk around the area a few times. This is a habit often seen in cats with wilderness survival experience. They do this to ensure the safety of their kittens by assessing the surroundings. As long as the owner remains quiet and does not approach too closely, the mother cat will usually return to the nesting area quickly.

3. Physical Defects in the Kitten

Some mother cats can detect health issues or physical defects in their kittens. To avoid affecting the other kittens or if they believe a kitten has no chance of survival, they may discard it. In some cases, malnourished mother cats might even eat the weakest kitten in the litter to survive. If the owner notices this behavior, it's crucial to isolate the mother and the abandoned kitten, and switch to artificial feeding.

4. Overpopulation of Kitten Litter

Experienced cats with a large litter, especially if there are six or more kittens, may struggle to care for all of them. If the mother's milk supply is insufficient, she may refuse to feed one or more kittens. In such situations, the owner should promptly provide the mother cat with additional nutrition to boost milk production. If this does not improve, artificial feeding should be considered.

Additionally, if a mother cat is unwell during the lactation period, she may neglect her kittens. If the owner observes persistent symptoms such as a high fever, loss of appetite, low milk supply, postpartum convulsions, swollen and inflamed mammary glands, or a foulsmelling discharge from the vagina, these could indicate mastitis, metritis, or postpartum hypocalcemia. In such cases, it's important to seek veterinary care promptly.

We hope this comprehensive guide on what to do when a mother cat neglects her kittens during the lactation period is helpful to all cat owners. Should you have any further questions, feel free to consult with an online veterinary expert.