Does a mother cat get upset when her kittens are given away?

Answer by  maggie711 (285)

Yes, losing her kittens WILL be noticed. At 8-9 weeks you will have seen a change in mother's behavior. Let prospective parents select their kitten(s) while she is there watching.

Answer by  sasser1102 (198)

My personal answer to this is yes regardless of what vets might say. They do get over it with time, but the initial removal of the kitten does seem to effect the cat. They look for the kittens, meow, and they get upset when approached. These signs all tell me that it bothers them.

Answer by  Anonymous

Cats are independent animals, not herd creatures. The kittens naturally "leave home" as soon as they are weaned and comfortable, and mother cats are equipped to deal with this. Kittens probably feel more emotional stress at losing playmates/siblings than their mother.

Answer by  karenkay (343)

A mother cat is very protective of her kittens until they are weaned. For this reason, you should wait until they are weaned to give her kittens away. Mother cats usually start weaning around 4-5 weeks.

Answer by  tessamalk (466)

A mother cat will miss her kittens and seem upset for a short while. Try posting on craigslist and request a rehoming fee ($15 or so) for the kittens.

Answer by  smellycat22 (1129)

Mother cats are generally not attached to the kittens. You can find homes for kittens once they are weaned off of the mother's milk. They should be able to eat solid food and drink on their own by 8-10 weeks of age.

Answer by  Nancy (578)

For the most part, as long as they are around 8 weeks old, she will not be upset. She may retain a friendly atmosphere around them forever, but it doesn't depress her. To be safe, make sure you don't give them away too soon,though

Answer by  valentino1 (1)

kittens should not be re-homed before 12 wks. spread it out so mom doesn't lose all kitties at the same time. make sure kittens have their first series of shots before leaving, and charge a fee. keep one kitten, if possible.

Answer by  Anonymous

My cat most definately noticed and appears to miss the interaction with her kittens. It seems to have upset her, but she is adjusting. Just like we, they do what they must to get by. If I had it to do again, I would have kept one as her companion.

Answer by  Anonymous

Totally absolutely disagree!!! Kittens should be removed from mom at 5 wks old and placed into human care bc that is where they will live the rest of their life! A mom is really only needed the first 2-3 wks for their milk. They do everything else based on instinct!