New mother cat desperate to get in the other room

[griffinstorme]

I adopted a male and female cat a couple weeks ago, and last night she gave birth. Two kittens doing good. We already had him scheduled for a neuter today, so we kept that appointment and he's fine. We're keeping them separate, with him in my bedroom and her and the kittens in the living room.

She's had a couple of litters of kittens before, and is being a bit more of a hands-off mom this time. She'll go and let them suckle for a bit, but doesn't spend all the time with them. I've read other people's experiences on here and think it's fine. What worries me is that she's yowling and desperate to get in my bedroom. She'll get up maybe twice and hour and go scratch the door and yowl wanting to be let in. She's never been vocal before, but was very vocal during labour and today.
I did let her in once, but all she did was hiss at the boy, so I took her out. Anyone know why this is or if I should be concerned? The vet felt her today (brought her in briefly when I went to pick up the boy from the neuter) and said she didn't feel any more kittens and she seemed to be doing well. She's eating and drinking and wanting attention from me.

 

[Sarthur2]

Her hormones are in high gear. She should calm down in a day or two. She’s also feeling protective of her babies and knows he’s around. Keep them separated.

Do you plan to spay her after this litter weans?

 

[griffinstorme]

Do you plan to spay her after this litter weans?

That's good to hear. I've had cats, but never kittens, so it's new to me! We are having her spayed in 6 weeks, and actually we're planning on sending him to a friend's house until the kittens are adopted out. Don't want to risk another pregnancy or kitten aggression.

 

[Furballsmom]

Will you be able to weigh them?
Weighing Newborn Kittens (and How This Could Save Their Lives) – TheCatSite Articles

 

[griffinstorme]

I have a little kitchen scale. I will try to weigh them.

 

[griffinstorme]

My cat just had kittens and (coincidentally, due to a busy vet practice), the tom was neutered on the next day. We've been keeping them separate for the past 4 days since the kittens were born. Papa is doing good, mom is very calm. We tried to let him back into the living room with the kittens today slowly, and IMMEDIATELY the mama ran after him attacking him, yelling and hissing, and chased him around the room. He's now back in our room, and he's fine. She's mostly calmed down, but took a good few hours because she was so riled up.

We've decided to have the dad stay with a friend for a few weeks, but I'm worried that when he comes home, she'll still be aggressive toward him. Anyone with experience on this? How long should he stay away? We're going to try and have her spayed asap (vet says 4 weeks at the earliest).

Update: She was being calm and quiet, so I went into my room. She darted in quickly and went straight after the tom. We were able to get her out, but she gave my partners leg a few good scratches.

I should mention that she had the babies under our bed in the bedroom, but we moved her to a nice corner of the living room the next day (under a table, with a sheet for darkness and privacy, etc). Maybe she wants back to that area because it's where she gave birth?

 

[griffinstorme]

Update, she's calmed down, and the kittens are gaining weight well!

 

[Furballsmom]

Thank you so much for this great update

 

[griffinstorme]

The kittens are well, and she’s been calm so we tried to introduce the Tom back to them since he’s been separate (and was neutered the day after the kittens were born). But as soon as we let him in the room she attacked him. Even snuck back into the bedroom later to attack him again! He’s going away with a friend for a few weeks, but any recommendations how long? Until the kittens are gone or just until she’s spayed? I’m worried now she’ll be aggressive when we try to reintroduce them in a few weeks
We’ve never seen that behaviour from her before.

 

[susanm9006]

It is pretty normal for mom cats to be very protective of their babies, more so when they are very young. When they get to be up and moving around she may be more willing to have him around but for now you need to keep them separated. Keeping her and the babies in their own room is the best alternative. Having him stay elsewhere may backfire in that he will come back smelling a different place and she may be aggressive because she doesn’t recognize him.

 

[griffinstorme]

Keeping her and the babies in their own room is the best alternative. Having him stay elsewhere may backfire in that he will come back smelling a different place and she may be aggressive because she doesn’t recognize him.

We thought of this, it just seems not nice to keep him in our small bedroom alone all day for a month. Those seem to be the only alternatives at the moment :/

 

[Sarthur2]

She’s just protecting her kittens. It’s a natural instinct. I would bring him back after the kittens are rehomed and after mom is spayed and recovered. Mom should not be spayed before 6-8 weeks.

 

[Sarthur2]

Mom should not be spayed before 6-8 weeks.

 

[Furballsmom]

it just seems not nice to keep him in our small bedroom alone all day for a month.

He should be fine. Give him a calming product perhaps, but toys, your attention, Cat videos of squirrels birds etc, a window to look out if if possible and Cat Music will help the time go by quickly for him.

 

[griffinstorme]

Mom should not be spayed before 6-8 weeks.

The vet said they recommended 6, but 4 would be okay.

 

[Sarthur2]

Four is not okay because kittens will not be weaned yet. Do not spay before 6 weeks.

 

[Furballsmom]

He’s going away with a friend for a few weeks, but any recommendations how long?

I'd keep him home. You can arrange his room with cat music, cat videos, toys and visits from you will keep him comfortable.

 

[griffinstorme]

Update: we’ve had a bad couple of days. We waited about 2 weeks after his neuter to reintroduce them. It went well. They didn’t mind each other and actually got on after a couple days. He even groomed the kittens.
Then late last night, she attacked him again, out of nowhere. He was on my lap, she was on the other side of the room and she just went at him. Again today - this morning, they were fine. Calm and socialising well. Then today, they both wandered into the closet (we try to keep them out) and she went after him, biting my partner in the process.
Now we’re at wits end. Why could she be doing this, seemingly unprovoked? After they’ve been getting along so well all week? Could it be because she’s in heat again?
Should we separate them again, maybe until she’s spayed in a month? Or wait till kittens are gone? And if the behaviour doesn’t change, then what? At least the boy isn’t hurt and seems unfazed by it all.

 

[Furballsmom]

Should we separate them again, maybe until she’s spayed in a month? Or wait till kittens are gone?

Yes and yes.

 

[Sarthur2]

I agree. Keep them separated until 2 weeks after his neuter, and ideally, until after she is spayed and recovered and kittens are gone. I think you’re just borrowing trouble otherwise. In the long run, they will probably get along just fine after all is said and done.