why is my mother cat so nasty to her kitten?

[beckyboo0121]

my cat bella had 4kittens last year,i found homes for 3 when they were 10 weeks old and decided to keep one myself,bella continued to feed her kitten for about a month,and then she turned really nasty,every time she has close contact with her she growls,claws,bites and generally doesnt like being near her baby kitten,does anyone know why the mother cat is doing this and is it normal cat behaviour.

[B00]

Well if your older cat is anything like me with my eldest daughter (who's 18 and deeply annoying!), the kitten is probably just bugging her by just being there. Too many women and all that!

In time, she might settle down and just choose to ignore the kitten.

[drchasuble]

She's just telling her kitten to back off. She just doesn't want it to feed anymore. With the other three kittens leaving she's probably drying up anyway.

How would you feel if you were being pestered by something with such sharp pin like teeth?

[Sasha13]

I agree - it's mum telling baby that she shouldn't be feeding from her anymore. Once the kitten is used to feeding and not being so reliant on her mother you'll probably find they'll get on ok.

[*ALFIE*]

..cos the mother cats a bitch

[wazzaa]

I think the Mother is trying to show the kittens that they should be starting to draw away from her, towards a life of independence. I know it's hard to watch, but I think Mum knows best, and unless these attacks draw blood etc. I should let nature do her bit, unless, as I said, if it's particularly vicious then gently intervene, by petting both cats, to ease the intensity. Cats rule, really they do. Wazza X

[kaylamay]

Yes a mother cat once she starts to wean her young will act aggressively towards the kittens as she no longer wants them to nurse. This is her way of pushing them away and is normal although to us humans it's heartbreaking to see. She feels they are old enough to be on their own. Mama may again cozy up to an older kitten once the kitten knows not to expect nursing privileges. Give it time, mama will get over it and they will bond again as cats and not mother and kitten.

[Illyria54]

Yes this is completely normal cat behaviour, When my cat had kittens I decided to keep one back and for the 17 years he lived (mum outlived him by another 5 years!) his mum hissed and spat at him every time she saw him, cats are generally solitary creatures and once the kittens are old enough to go on their way then mum doesn't want to know.