Feral cats, like their domesticated counterparts, will move their young for various reasons. A mother cat may repeatedly move her kittens until she finds a suitable space that satisfies her needs. The living conditions of the nest play a significant role in her decision. If the kittens have everything they need to survive, such as clean bedding, food, water, and privacy, a mother cat may never relocate them before they wean. However, the space must be large enough to accommodate the mother cat and kittens as they grow.
On the other hand, dirty, cramped conditions with little access to food or water will have the mother cat looking for a new home. Feral cats are known for being adaptable animals, but they also have a strong maternal instinct, and they want what is best for their young. If they sense that their kittens are not safe or healthy in their current environment, they will move them to a more suitable location.
Let’s explore some of the reasons why mother cats move their kittens and what to do if you find kittens alone.
Why Mother Cats Move Their Kittens
Maternal instincts are powerful, and a mother cat could decide in an instant that the area isn’t safe. We mentioned a few reasons above, but here are a few more:
1. The area isn’t private enough.
2. The area is dirty or soiled.
3. The mother cat smells other animals nearby.
4. The kittens have grown and need more space.
5. Access to food and/or water has grown more scarce.
6. The mother cat smells humans nearby.
7. Humans have handled the kittens.
Will a Mother Cat Abandon Her Kittens?
Eventually, every mother cat will leave her kittens. For most litters of feral cats, this happens around 4 to 6 weeks. Domesticated cats typically stay with their mother until they are 8 to 12 weeks old. However, a feral mother cat might leave her kittens before it’s actually time due to:
1. Illness: Newborn kittens have virtually no immune system, relying on antibodies from their mother’s milk to fight off diseases. Feral cats are exposed to much harsher conditions than the average housecat, so they have a greater risk of getting sick. To prevent illness from spreading in the litter, a mother cat may leave the ill kitten to devote her time and energy to the rest of the litter.
2. She Got Lost: Cats are very smart and have an amazing sense of smell, but they can get overwhelmed and lost like any creature. If she strays too far from her litter or gets relocated by humans, the mother cat won’t be able to return to them.
3. She’s Injured or Killed: It’s very sad, but sometimes mother cats leave their litter in search of food and don’t come back. In the wild, there are many dangers that could hurt or kill her before she comes back. A predator animal, spoiled food, and cars are just a few hazards that could harm a cat before she’s able to get back to her litter.
4. Her Instincts Haven’t Kicked In: While maternal instincts are, well, instincts, they are not automatic in 100% of cases. A first-time mother cat may not understand what’s happening, panic, and leave a newborn litter. These are very dangerous cases because newborn kittens can die very quickly if left on their own in the wild immediately after birth.
How to Tell if Kittens Are Abandoned
It can be alarming to stumble across a litter of feral kittens, especially if there’s no mother in sight. However, you shouldn’t panic as mother cats don’t usually go very far from their litter.
If the area is difficult to access, you can scatter some flour nearby and check it later. If there are paw prints, it’s likely the mother returning from a hunting trip. There’s no need to interfere with a wild cat litter as long as the mother is nearby – trust that she knows how to care for her kittens.
On the other hand, if there’s no sign of the mother returning for more than a few hours, intervention may be necessary. Some of your options include:
1. Fostering the kittens yourself if you have the available space and resources.
2. Locating a suitable foster mom cat who can feed the kittens.
3. Alerting a local animal rescue organization.
Conclusion
Mother cats want the best for their litter and will move their kittens as often as they need to until a suitable living space is found. However, unless there is no sign of the mother returning for an extended period or the kittens are in danger, it is advisable to leave the kittens alone. By intervening before it is necessary, you could unknowingly be putting the kittens in more danger. So, be mindful and let the mother cat do her job.
