Why Does a Cat Not Take Care of Her Litter?

by Corinne Cade
(Tallapoosa,GA,U.S.)

Question:
What variables could cause a female to not take care of her newborn kittens right after they are born? Would it matter if the breed of cat was Siamese? Would it have helped if the male was or wasn't in the room?

Answer:
The reasons are not always clear as the cat won't tell you. So we are never sure. It can happen to a cat of any breed. It seems also very unlikely that the presence/absence of the male in the room can be of any importance to a female giving birth.

All cats normally have a natural instinct to look after their kittens although a queen with her first litter can be overwhelmed or even scared. Try to reassure them. With encouragement the queen might gradually accept the litter.