Maternal Aggression

i just started fostering a queen and her 4 week old kittens. When we first put her in a separate room she heard our cat meow and became panicked and tried to lunge out so I closed the door and she bit me on my forearm pretty deep. I didn't react while bleeding a bit and talked softly, got down low and she came over purred and head butted me. She let her kittens climb on my lap and nursed the one kitten who hasn't been weaned and slept in front of me. The next morning I was able to feed her and them and change litter, but when I picked up the old litter to take out she she yowled, lunged, took hold and bit me on my leg. Again, I tried talking softly and then slowly walked out. The third time I slowly opened the door and she was waiting, smelling and yowling, eyes wide open looking at me intently and my hand so I put the food in front and she ate quickly while growling. I didn't try to go in because she seems agitated and I wanted to give her time. Tonight I put on double layers and gloves and sneakers since she's bitten me everywhere. She grabbed hold and it and scratched my hand but the glove protected me. I sat down quietly against the door and she still circled me, but the kittens got in front of her and she eventually backed away and the tiny one that I was concerned for because it hasn't been weened and is tiny came to feed and she closed her eyes for ten minutes, but as I slowly tried to walk out she again yowled and tried to go after, but I slowly closed the door. It's almost like a blind fury which I understand because she's being protective, but it seems like she's getting more aggressive. Where she was first fine to let me in and do what I needed to clean the food, water and litter and let her babies on top of me, now she seems to not want me to even come in. What can I do to help her trust me? I would leave her be, but I want to change the litter, water and food and she's not trying to let me near. I also wanted to help socialize the kittens who are super playful and rambunctious, except the tiny one who seems to still be figuring things out. I've fostered a pregnant cat that gave birth and other cats and kittens, but never a nursing mother who's kittens are slightly older. Any advice how to help her and me?

She sounds scared to death, poor gal. I suggest going in and sitting with her for a bit before trying to do anything. She has no bond or trust and is acting on instinct to protect her babies. Otherwise you are really doing everything right. She's just very nervous and frightened.

I agree with thew above, she is scared out of her mind, and the mother instinct to protect her little ones has kicked in on top of her fear. Time is the only thing that will help, just continue to move VERY slowly when around her, talk in a low, soothing voice and give her the time she needs to adjust. She has a reason to act so scared, cats are full of fear anyway when confronted with a move to a strange place, and she has a family to protect. The kittens are older now and moving around, she can't keep track of them well, so panics. Once she calms down and accepts you and her new place, she will be fine. My heart goes out to her. Thank you for taking care of her, you are going above and beyond your duties. She will be a different cat once these responsibilities are lifted from her and she can return to just being a cat. You will be blessed for helping her.

Thank you for your support! Do you think it would help if I let her out to explore the house? This morning she again was yowling and ran to the door and looked like she was trying to get out and I somewhat blocked her by showing her food and directing her away. I put out kitten food for the kittens too.
I keep my cats locked in my bedroom every time I go in there so she doesn't see them. Maybe she feels too enclosed? It's a good size bedroom, but being with 6 kittens could be a lot. I'm headed to work, but was planning to come back during lunch and try sitting with her and I'll also try again tonight.
It's encouraging to know maybe that time is just what she needs. I've never been fearful of cats or feral cats, even raising a few for 17 years and have been scratched bitten before but I have to admit after getting bitten each time, maybe she senses my fear. I know I need to go in with confidence which I completely had the first day because I had no expectations, but it's a little easier said than done. Maybe I need time too! Thanks so much for your help.

Just not too much confidence or she will feel you are a threat! You could see if she wants to explore, it would get her used to new smells, but definitely keep your other cats locked away, and lock all doors, you wouldn't want someone walking in and her streaking out. Time is definitely the healer of her fear, mine took almost a year before they all got along. Don't think down the road though, just one day at a time right now, you are her angel on earth and she will know that sooner or later!

Thank you! I came during lunch to try again. When I opened the door she yowled and bit my hand, and then ran past me so instead of preventing her I let her go and smell a bit. The babies starting running out too so I slowly started picking them up one by one to get everyone back in the room. I then sat down on the floor and the kittens ran over to play on my leg and get some affection. At 4 weeks many of them know to headbut my face and purr and lick, while they play a bit violently with each other.

She sat in front and locked eyes and started coming towards me but I deflected by talking to the kittens. An hour later she came over and started purring and laid between my legs and nursed her kittens which I hadn't seen her do for a bit. She's still super cautious and does try coming towards my face staring intently, but I just try to avert my eyes and distract her. If she's staring at me and coming towards my face, could she want affection or should I still be cautious?

I do have another question which maybe needs to be posted elsewhere, but it has to do with the size of the smallest cat. He squeaks and goes after her to suckle and she seems to just walk away leaving him squealing. He's much smaller, less coordinated than his siblings and they try to play a bit violent with him. They've already learned to jump up and down from the sofa and tables and he's barely walking over the small litter box. She nursed him while I was there, but I do hear him squealing when the door is closed and when I'm in there he squeals for attention. The others only squeal when they bite each other too hard. Should I be concerned that he's much smaller and if she is breastfeeding him enough? The others have already started eating on their own, and as observed today nursed for the comfort. I wasn't sure if the nervousness has affected her breastfeeding. She could very well be doing this behind closed doors.
Thanks for any help!

It sounds like the runt needs more food. Have you tried feeding the kittens wet food yet? I wonder if this runt would take a bottle of formula. It sounds like he needs supplementing in order to grow better.

It's great that you played with the kittens, and that mom lay between your legs and nursed. I hope she will let you pet her soon.

It sounds to me like she is testing you when she walks towards you. It's good that you avert your eyes and talk to the kittens.

You can also blink your eyes very slowly at mom when she looks at you. This is a signal to the cat that you are friendly and non-threatening.

I think you are making good progress!

Yes, I've been feeding royal canin babycat wet food and mom and babies are all eating, but the little one doesn't although I've tried putting a little in his mouth and he's licked his lips. He really just meows and follows mom around and she will try walking away, give in to feeding for 5-10 minutes and then walks away again. He follows and mews at me as well for attention. I just ordered some kmr and baby bottles next day shipping so I can supplement, just in case this continues.

I've blinked my eyes and looked away and she's sat and let me pet her and has purred, but any sound like a neighbors door or someone walking upstairs makes her stand up alert and look at me and low yowl. She did bite my finger when I came in and as I was leaving, but as I was wearing a glove and didn't react she seemed to let go. When she tries to circle around me, I slowly turn with her so she's always in front of me. I think there's progress though and now I have some hope this will continue to improve!
Thank you for the support and advice

It is definitely progress!

I fed little baby some kmr, and cleaned off his rear, which was full of dried litter and poop. He then went to the litter and had diarrhea. I did get their mommy to trust me a bit more and you can see she started feeding beneath me. You'll see how small the baby is compared to siblings.

Momma may not be cleaning the little guy. Keep him clean with a wet cloth. Can you supplement his feedings with a syringe? Is that what you are doing already? It could possibly be female & a bit smaller than his brothers.

L LisaBLee

Oh my! He is small. He may need more supplementing more often to catch up. Can you do that?

Have you offered wet food to the babies yet? They look big enough to try it now.

Good that mom is getting more comfortable with you!

His siblings are all eating wet food comfortably and I've tried putting some on his lips yesterday and he licked a little, but this afternoon didn't want any, that's when I gave him the formula. This evening I gave him more formula, which might have caused the diarrhea. There are six, so maybe he just wasn't getting as much as siblings? I'm going to try some kmr and kitten food and see if I can get him to eat from my fingers and if not try more formula and or a small syringe of water in case the diarrhea has dehydrated him. Here's a photo of all of them trying to breastfeed. She's such a young mom. Could he be younger than siblings?

How could he be younger than his siblings if they all birthed at the same time?

He's just the runt. He's probably been bullied off nipples. The KMR probably caused the diarrhea. He's accustomed to mom's milk.

Try Gerber chicken or turkey meat baby food. He may like that.

Primula

Sometimes a kitten conceived a few days later than the others can still be born with them, but be behind in development. He's the runt, regardless!

sarthur2 said:

Primula

Sometimes a kitten conceived a few days later than the others can still be born with them, but be behind in development. He's the runt, regardless!

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Gotcha

Those aren't flea collars, are they?

talkingpeanut said:

Those aren't flea collars, are they?

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Is that bad?

Yes, the chemicals in them can be harmful to pregnant moms and kittens.