Newborn Kittens

[sally-ann87]

Just wondering, Does anyone know the recomended length of time before handling newborn kittens? Thanks

[wiggal]

Hey Sally-ann,

People have always said to me to leave it a couple of weeks.

When my cats have had kittens though, we have always handled them for one reason or other after a day or so, and it doesnt seem to of done any harm.
We always handled them very close to the mum cats who have kinda of given us a look of 'we trust you but dont push your luck!'. None of them ever got stroppy or nasty, and we never let any one other then me or my partner touch them.

But it depends on your cat I suppose, all my lot are very affectionate and loving, and I even had one of them cuddle up to me on the sofa and had her 'waters break' all over my arm! When we tried to move her off the sofa she kept trying to jump back on for a cuddle, so in the end we put towels on the sofa next to me and let her get on with it!

[twinny-15]

I have had several of my cats have kittens and as long as mum is happy normaly handle them within a day or so. This helps them get used to being handled and makes for friendlier cats. Twinny

[Jugglering]

http://petcaretips.net/newborn_kitten_care.htm l

My cat did not like me handling her kittens at all (or moving them from my bed where she'd birthed the little darlings lol)... I put them in their own basket and took them downstairs and one by one she laboriously carried them back upstairs to my bed..... Obviously I won in the end, well, I needed somewhere to sleep ! If I picked them up in the first few days, she would scrub them thoroughly to remove my scent but as soon as they started seeing properly and moving around under their own steam she gave that up but they still got a good scrub at various intervals during the day and night....

[Kleiber]

I was with Gavin (don't ask...!!) when she gave birth to her 8 kittens & she was quite happy for me to handle them, even when they'd just been born. I let her clean them up first and then I just picked them up and put them close to her. She was a stray that I took in, knowing she was pregnant and I think she appreciated not having to have her babies out in the fields. She trusted me implicitly and still does - cats have a way of knowing who's kind to them. Don't over-handle the kittens, but just let Mum know that you can be trusted and don't ever take them so's she can't see them. While they're still blind, only handle them minimally - Mum will soon get to know that you aren't a threat and as soon as they open their eyes & start exploring, you won't be able to avoid picking the little darlings up!!