If you're a cat owner, especially one whose feline has given birth, you might have experienced the heart - warming yet puzzling moment when your cat gently carries her kittens and places them at your feet. It's a scene that can easily make you feel honored, thinking that your cat trusts you deeply. However, as it turns out, there's more to this behavior than meets the eye. Let's explore the various reasons why your cat might be bringing her kittens to you.
1. Seeking Assistance in Parenting
Just like human parents who sometimes need a break from the overwhelming task of raising a child, mother cats can also find the responsibility of caring for a litter of kittens exhausting. Giving birth takes a toll on a cat's body, both physically and mentally. She has to nurse multiple kittens, keep them clean, and protect them around the clock.
For instance, if a cat has a large litter of four or five kittens, the constant demand for milk can be physically draining. The mother cat may start to feel overwhelmed and realize that she could use some help. In her mind, you, as the provider of food and a safe home, are a logical choice to lend a hand. So, she brings the kittens to you, almost as if she's saying, "I could use some help here. Can you take over for a while?"
Some cat owners have reported that their cats seem to specifically bring the kittens to them when they are preparing food. It's as if the cat is associating the act of you providing sustenance with your ability to help care for the kittens.
2. Confusion Over Identity
Cats rely heavily on their sense of smell to identify the world around them, including their own offspring. A mother cat will imprint on the unique scent of her kittens at birth. However, if you handle the kittens soon after they are born, your human scent can easily transfer onto them.
When the mother cat then tries to identify her kittens by smell, the unfamiliar human scent can throw her off. She may become confused and start to question whether these are truly her kittens. In some cases, this confusion can lead her to reject the kittens. Instead of taking any chances, she may bring the kittens to you, the source of the strange smell, as if to say, "These kittens smell like you. Are they yours?"
There are stories of cat owners who, out of excitement, immediately picked up the newborn kittens. Soon after, the mother cat began acting strangely, carrying the kittens around and eventually leaving them near the owner. It was only when the owner realized the issue with the scent transfer that they understood the mother cat's confusion.
3. Concerns About the Kittens' Health
Newborn kittens are extremely vulnerable and prone to various health issues. A mother cat, with her keen sense of smell and touch, can often detect when something is wrong with her kittens before it becomes obvious to us humans. If a kitten is sick, weak, or not developing properly, the mother cat may be at a loss for what to do.
In her eyes, you, as the one who takes her to the veterinarian and provides for her well - being, are someone who can help. So, she will bring the sick or weak kitten to you, meowing and acting distressed. It's her way of pleading for you to do something to make her baby better.
For example, if a kitten has a low body temperature or is not nursing properly, the mother cat may notice these signs early on. She may then carry the kitten to you, hoping that you can find a solution. In some cases, if the situation is severe, the mother cat may even abandon the sick kitten if she believes it cannot be saved. But by bringing it to you first, she's giving you a chance to intervene.
4. Sharing the Joy
Cats may seem aloof at times, but they do form strong emotional bonds with their human owners. When a mother cat gives birth, it's a significant and joyous event in her life. Just like a proud parent, she may want to share this moment with you, the person she loves and trusts the most.
By bringing her kittens to you, she's showing off her new family. She wants you to see how adorable her kittens are and perhaps even receive some praise. If you respond with excitement and positive attention, such as gentle cooing and petting, the mother cat will likely be very pleased. She may even purr and rub against you, showing her happiness at sharing this special moment.
Some cat owners have noticed that their cats seem to strut around with pride when they bring their kittens to them, as if they are saying, "Look at what I've created! Aren't they wonderful?"
5. Ensuring a Good Future for Her Kittens
Mother cats are surprisingly intelligent and intuitive when it comes to the well - being of their offspring. They know that their kittens will eventually need to leave the nest and find their own homes. If a mother cat lives in a loving home with you, she may want her kittens to have the same kind of life.
By bringing the kittens to you early on, she's trying to introduce them to you and get you to bond with them. She hopes that you will see how cute and lovable the kittens are and decide to keep them or find them good homes. It's her way of ensuring that her kittens have a bright future.
There are cases where cat owners initially had no intention of keeping all the kittens in the litter. But when the mother cat kept bringing the kittens to them, spending time with them, and showing them how sweet the kittens were, the owners' hearts melted, and they ended up adopting the kittens or finding them great homes through their network.
6. Sign of a Changing Environment
Cats are creatures of habit and are very sensitive to changes in their environment. If there have been recent changes in the home, such as new furniture, a new pet, or even a change in the daily routine, the mother cat may feel stressed.
She may worry that the new environment is not safe for her kittens. In an attempt to find a more secure place for them, she may bring the kittens to you. Your presence represents familiarity and safety to her. By placing the kittens with you, she believes they will be protected from any potential threats in the new or changed environment.
For example, if a family moves to a new house, the mother cat may be initially unsettled. She may start carrying her kittens around the house, looking for a safe spot. Eventually, she may bring them to the owner, as if seeking reassurance and a sense of security.
7. Time for Weaning
As the kittens grow, they reach a stage where they start to develop teeth. At this point, nursing can become uncomfortable or even painful for the mother cat. She will begin to realize that it's time for the kittens to start weaning and transitioning to solid food.
When the mother cat brings the kittens to you, she may be trying to signal that it's your turn to take over the feeding responsibilities. She wants you to start introducing the kittens to kitten - appropriate food, such as wet food or specially formulated kitten kibble.
Some cat owners notice that their mother cats start to push the kittens away more frequently during nursing sessions as the kittens' teeth come in. Soon after, the mother cat will start bringing the kittens to the owner, often near the area where the cat's food is kept, indicating that it's time for a change in the kittens' diet.
