Why do cats carry kittens to move to other places? How long after a kitten is born can it be touched?

If your cat has given birth to kittens, you may sometimes see the mother cat carrying the kittens one by one to a place where it is not easy for people to find them, that is, moving the nest. This is the mother cat's maternal behavior to protect the kittens. So, can you touch the kittens after they are born?

Why do cats carry kittens to move?

This is a mother cat's maternal behavior of wanting to protect her kittens, and it is a very normal behavior. When the mother cat feels that her original residence is not safe enough and is afraid of being approached by predators, she will try to move to a place where she thinks it is safe to raise kittens. This is often called moving nests.

If the owner touches the kittens casually shortly after they are born, the maternal cat will leave home or even eat the kittens because they are contaminated with human scent.

A mother cat usually moves her nest because she is disturbed by humans after giving birth, there is a strange smell in the nest, or the nest is not comfortable or warm enough, which is a maternal behavior.

Try not to disturb the mother cat when she is taking care of the baby. Change the water and feed the baby every day. Keep the room warm and clean. Pay attention to whether the mother cat accidentally presses the baby. If the active baby accidentally climbs out of the cat bed, use chopsticks or other tools to put it back into the nest.

How long after a kitten is born can it be touched?

The best time for kittens to come into contact with people is after 3 weeks of birth.

At this time, the kittens have opened their eyes and can move and interact with each other. The mother cat will not bite the kittens to death, and the mother cat has also relieved the initial tension. Even if something goes wrong, the mother cat will at most refuse to feed.

The kitten's own immune ability is also greatly enhanced, and your touch can increase the kitten's closeness to people (here refers to all humans).

A light brushing of the kitten's fur every day (5 minutes a day is enough) will help the kitten feel more comfortable.

Can you touch a kitten after it's born?

Whether you can touch a newborn kitten can also depend on your relationship with the mother cat. For example, if the mother cat brings the kitten to your bed or in front of you, it means that she trusts you very much. Otherwise, she will definitely hide with the kitten.

If the mother cat trusts you very much, it is totally fine for you to touch or even hold it. If the mother cat is usually very afraid of you and hides when she sees you, then you'd better not touch the kitten. Because the mother cat may get angry and scratch or bite you. After all, it is common for cats to bite people when they are in a hurry.

Be aware that a highly protective mother cat will have some aggressive behaviors. For example, when the owner approaches the kitten, the mother cat will make strange noises, wag her tail, and stand up her hair to show a threat. If the mother cat does not show such behaviors, it means that the owner can approach the kitten, but never let strangers get close to them.