[hbkidf]

Hi guys,

My queen gave birth to one kitten one week ago and everything has been going well.

We also have the dad. The queen is about 18 months old and the dad is about 16 months - he was neutered a couple of days after the birth.

Since yesterday morning whenever the queen is away from the baby I've noticed him on top of the kitten biting the back of its neck. It's almost as if he knows he's being naughty because as soon as I look at him he leaves the kitten and runs away.

My worry is that he's trying to harm the kitten, although the queen just watches him whilst he does this. He was very doting in the first few days but I've seen him with mice & birds in the garden and I'm worried he'll hurt something so fragile.

Does anyone have experience with this? They're both ragdolls so should be timid.

The queen is an excellent mum and meows when we come near the kitten. But when he bites it she seems to lie a few yards away just watching him without any concern.

 

[mollycod321]

Oh no, I have no experience with that but don’t let the dad cat bite the kitten it can make an infection if bit through the skin. Clap hands to stop try to please stop that behavior!

 

[mollycod321]

Maybe dad trying to pick up baby and doesn’t knoW how?? My mommy cat had babies once and the mom picked up the kitten by its back legs. I would gently get the kitten and bring it to where she wanted. She was a baby herself when I found her. Maybe the dad loves the kitten but doesn’t know how to handle babies. Gently stop the behavior with clapping or pet the daddy cat to calm him with lots of love. And maybe treats will distract the behavior. Try and google and see why they do it.

 

[robertopupka]

ahaha, nice

 

[hbkidf]

Thanks both - I've checked Google and some are saying it's to assert dominance but I got the impression that's on slightly older kittens. This one is a week old. Initially he would lick it and be quite doting but since Sunday he's seemed hostile, although the queen is OK with him when he does it.

So his intentions may be good for all I know but I can't let him see it through in case he will seriously harm the kitten.

Also I don't think he's trying to pick the kitten up as the queen hasn't picked up the kitten at all. They're just sitting in the corner of our bedroom the whole time.

 

[mollycod321]

I hope the kitten is okay, does it stay with the other kittens? Kindly supervise and watch the little born one all the time. I feel bad for the kitten. Maybe is the runt of the litter and needs alittle more tender loving care.

 

[mollycod321]

Kittens love to be nurtured. When I had my litter I kept the momma and babies in the bedroom and would literally watch them constantly. I am sure you are , I would play with them all the time and I would keep All My other Cats Separate and away from the babies until they got few weeks older. Maybe put momma and babies in a separate too
Temporarily so you don’t have any worries.

 

[mollycod321]

Sorry mean to say keep momma and babies Seperate in a bedroom. For few weeks until they are older and keep dad away from them.