If you observe any of these things, your cute kitten is surely old enough to have a litter of her own. Kittens are safe from tomcats at about four to eight weeks of age. Many people are surprised to learn that kittens and tomcats can peacefully coexist in the same home. Hunting provides important mental stimulation for a cat. Lastly, spayed and neutered cats are less likely to roam, meaning they will stay closer to home and be more available to protect their kittens if necessary. When we have cats as domestic pets or even in feral situations we tend to think of them as solitary animals. Unlocking The Mystery, Why Is My Black Cat Turning Brown? Although some father cats may be completely harmless around their newborn kittens, it may be smart to keep them away, just for cautions sake. Neutering should be done as soon as possible, usually before six months of age. But, even at this age, a male cat can still be a threat if it has bad intentions. Post date: 30 yesterday. Tom cats are responsible for the paternity of their offspring and can have multiple kittens with different mothers. . I am moving this to the feral forum for you. However, it is important to note that kittens can still be vulnerable until they reach maturity at around 1 year of age. Kittens reach puberty at the age of 9-10 months. The Humane Society of the United States: Pets by the numbers, Alley Cat Allies: Newborn Kitten Progression & Cat Age Chart with Pictures, Mayo Clinic: Menopause Symptoms and causes, Banfield: News Room News, information, and updates from Banfield Pet Hospital. Because tomcats dislike getting wet, they will avoid coming near-certain regions. Are you worried about the safety of your kittens around tomcats? A male cat that is not castrated will be highly active and roam a lot, sometimes wandering off for a day or more at a time, and . To know more about tomcats' behavior with kittens, here are some facts that you can ponder about and learn some ways that will help you keep tomcats away. Feral tomcats may watch over the kittens while the mama cat is out looking for food. Amazon Affiliate Disclaimer: CatWiki.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and other Amazon Locales. She may also use loud vocalizations to scare away the danger. Lets Explore, Do dogs have a higher IQ than humans? Therefore, while a tomcat can attack kittens, some steps can be taken to prevent this from happening. They will react violently to the presence of kittens and can seriously harm or even kill them. However, all cats sexually mature at slightly different ages, like how people hit puberty at slightly different times. Do dogs go to heaven according to the Bible? Fortunately, the domestic cat is adaptable enough that happy families usually prevail. This will help them avoid any confrontations with tomcats. Always check with your veterinarian before changing your pets diet, medication, or physical activity routines. Cats have a variety of fascinating and entertaining behaviors. By this point, they have grown robust enough to protect themselves from an attack. It is also important to keep an eye on their interactions, so that you can intervene if necessary. Do Tomcats Kill Kittens? So, it is clear that mother cats are incredibly protective of their young and will go above and beyond to keep them safe from potential danger. However, consult your veterinarian first before intentionally allowing your queen to become pregnant. A male cat is also likely to be violent against one of the familys cats. Keeping your pet safe from wild or feral cats is important. The answer is often as simple as making sure they get lots of exercise and activities to tire them out physically and mentally. As long as a queen cat is sexually mature, she can carry a litter of kittens. Why do Mom cats bite their kittens throat? Click to attach a photo related to your comment. A tomcat refers to an un-neutered, sexually mature male cat, regardless of what breed he is. However, not all male cats will protect kittens. Kittens grow up, and fast. Cats usually exhibit neck biting behaviors especially when the mothers are lifting the kitten to move them from one place to another. Tomcats have a reputation for being territorial. By this time, most kittens will have been spayed or neutered, which will help to reduce the risk of aggression. You can make your own home cures in addition to using commercial items. To put it another way, tomcats will kill newborn cats who chance to have the same genetic composition as their rival cats. Even if a kitten has been neutered, it is important to supervise them when they are around tomcats. To stop your female cat from having kittens, she'll need to have a simple operation known as 'spaying' before she turns four months old. But usually, no other cats should be allowed near the babies. It isnt good for them and is likely to hurt them. Unfortunately, this practice only adds to the ongoing cat overpopulation crisis causing overflowing shelters and, in the wild, leading to over 2.4 billion bird casualties per year (caused by hunting). Kittens are not safe from tomcats until they are around six months old. Qualifying sales earn us a small commission from Amazon. If you do own cats you might have gone through this situation. Having said that there are some situations where males kill the kittens they sired. Surprisingly, the oldest pregnant cat on-record was a 30-year-old feline named Kitty, who birthed two healthy kittens. The key to keeping your kitten safe from tomcats is to make sure that theyre introduced slowly and carefully. But I have known some Toms that will kill more violently than that. Male cats are more likely to mature into affectionate and well-adjusted members of the household. Thats eight or so months before reaching adulthood and full-size. At what age are kittens safe from tomcats? Dog breeds are about more than coat colors and body type. Schedule an ovariohysterectomy before Fluffy returns home already-pregnant. Kittens may be small and cute, but they are vulnerable to predators, including adult tomcats. If youre wondering whether tomcats kill kittens, the answer is yes. how long does it take for a cat to give birth. Kittens are at their most vulnerable during their first few months of life. How Old Does a Cat Have to Be to Have a Kitten? Shortly before giving birth, a cat in labor will appear restless, hide or stop eating. Wet coffee groundswhich you may be able to get for free from coffee houses and fast food chainsand metal pans filled with vinegar also deter cats. You have two options that I know of - take the kitties inside, un. Also, if you notice that the kitten is significantly more vocal, it is because he is calling out to queens in the area. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. For example, Oriental Shorthairs, Siamese, and feral (wild outdoor) cats notoriously reach maturity around four-months-old. This means the mothers have the responsibility of hiding their kittens when they are still vulnerable to the attack of the tomcat. At what age are kittens safe from tomcats? Tomcats are larger and more aggressive than kittens, so its important to make sure your kitten is big enough and strong enough to defend themselves before allowing them to interact with tomcats. How many puppies can a French bulldog have? Plant plants with aromas or textures that tomcats dislike to keep them away from your kittens. It decreases their hormone-driven behaviors, which are unacceptably human. Simba, Snowball and Oreo: My 3 musKITTYeers! A female is called a queen (or a molly, [user-generated source?] Anesthesia is safe for these kittens, but the younger the kitten is, the more vigilant the surgical staff will need to be to monitor the kitten and ensure his . Its essential to keep kittens safe from tomcats. First, keep them indoors until they are at least four months old. A queen can birth five litters a year and continue reproducing throughout her lifespan unless spayed. Therefore, the best way to know whether your cat is sexually mature is to look for signs of heat. Take a look at our reviews of Cat Calming Sprays and Dewormers For Cats for more options. The key is supervision and patience. If a tomcat is ready to mate and father a litter, he will begin spraying behaviors. Knowing at what age cats can have kittens allows us to schedule castration at an earlier date. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Getting cold is a big danger to newborn kittens. Additionally, ensure windows and doors are tightly closed, install motion-activated lights or sprinklers around your home, supervise pets when outdoors, and dont leave food out for feral cats. Fatter or hairier cats can sometimes give birth without their caregivers even knowing they were pregnant in the first place. Your dog has graduated from puppyhood. Even tomcats that are not aggressive can see kittens as prey because of their size and movement. As kittens grow older, their aggression normally reduces. Kittens can be neutered as young as eight weeks and even senior cats can be neutered if they are in good health. 3 In the first few weeks, the mother cat will barely leave . This is completely FREE for you. Sometimes a mother cat may have another female (usually her mother or daughter) who she totally trusts with newborn or very young kittens. You cant teach cats to respect humans personal property, but electronic deterrents and some plants and herbs can keep them away from off-limits areas without harming them. Cats are seasonal polyestrics, which implies that cats experience heat during months with more sunlight. So how old do your kittens need to be before they can safely interact with larger cats? Neutering is the best option, but there are other things you can do to prevent spraying as well. Quick Tips: Put . Yes, a male cat can kill his own kittens. When it comes to having a cat, knowing your cats sexual cycle is key in understanding your animal better, and taking the necessary measures to avoid unwanted litters. Many cat owners, however, claim that their male cats show paternal instincts toward kittens, regardless of whether or not they are their offspring. Yes, a mother cat will defend her kittens. AskMyCats.com does not intend to provide veterinary advice. They would love to play with their kittens, but they make very little effort to care for them. Providing a safe and secure environment for the kittens is also essential to ensuring that they do not feel threatened or afraid. This has been observed in both wild and domestic cat colonies, according to cat experts. . These hormones may invite sexual advances from tomcats but she is not ready to mate. Most kitten attacks usually happen at a time when the female is away from the nest as it has been seen commonly that any nesting female drives away any males that may try to attack. Tomcats are usually not present to protect their offspring, though a colony male tom may drive away any intruders that may try to come in their territory mostly to protect their space rather than to secure the young ones. The males are only welcome when one of the females is available for mating or is on heat. If you have an outdoor cat, make sure the tomcat does not have access to your yard. Again, exceptions do occur. Some tomcats have attacked and killed their own offspring as a means of getting the busy mother cats to focus on them and then go back into estrus for mating purposes. Cats of all ages are not safe from a tomcat attack, for instance, if your kitten was raised indoors during its lifetime, they are not safe from male cat attacks since they are very possessive towards their territory. With time and patience, they will eventually work it out and become the best of friends! However, breed and living conditions ultimately determine when a female cat becomes fertile. As a general rule, cats are sensitive when it comes to smells, but there are a few scents they hate that might just surprise you. Can carry a litter of her own, or physical activity routines qualifying sales earn us a small commission Amazon. 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