There isn’t an easy yes or no answer to the question: My cat had kittens, can I move them ? You’ll see that the answer varies depending on who you consult. This is why Fluffy Kitty wanted to delve deep into the topic to find the best and most accurate information regarding whether you can (or should) move newborn kittens within the first few hours or days of your cat giving birth.
Caring for kittens takes a lot of attentive patience. While sweet momma cat will give her best effort to take care of her newborn litter, sometimes human intervention is beneficial and otherwise necessary. For example, if a weak or sick kitten is not properly getting it’s nourishment or warmth from the mom, it will be at risk of death. According to The Cat Doctor, kittens cannot defecate on their own for the first 2-3 weeks; the mother needs to lick their stomach and genitals in order to help them go potty. This is an example to show how human intervention would be necessary (taking kitten to the vet immediately).
Otherwise, is moving kittens and momma cat really helping them? Let’s find out!
Should you move newborn kittens? Why or why not?
To explain in two words: it depends*. Before moving kittens, ask yourself these two very important questions…
- What is the behavior of the mom cat?
- Is the birthing location safe, quiet, clean and accessible?
*If the above birthing location conditions all check out and if the mother is calm and healthy – then the kittens do not need moving** and you can begin handling them with momma’s supervision after 2 weeks. However, there are some situations in which your mommy cat and her newborn babies will need moving.
**If you move the kittens prematurely, the mom could get anxious about her babies and will most likely try to move them back to the original location anyway or worse, abandon them, so if the birthing location’s conditions are safe, quiet, clean, and the mom and babies look healthy, let nature do the rest – meaning trust in your sweet new mommy cat to do her job well (still check up on them frequently though just in case).
Let’s look at these two areas more in depth.
Momma cat’s behavior
One of the first things you should do (other than analyzing the conditions of birthing location) is to observe the mother’s behavior.
Ideally, your momma cat will already be comfortable with you and should trust your ability to care for her. If this is the case, then it’s most likely that the mother will not be anxious or worrisome if you approach her and her babies.
Personal experience: My family once took in a stray kitten that we named “Kitty”. She was very young (around 1 yr old?) when she got pregnant (I know, our fault for not taking her to get spayed sooner). Needless to say, we noticed her belly getting rounder and rounder. I put my ear up to her soft belly and I could hear her babies moving around.
The day came when she decided to give birth, but the way she acted right before was strange. She meowed at us ceaselessly. We got up and followed her to the bathroom where she would meow some more and stare at us. We would leave, but again she would have us follow her to the bathroom. Then it hit us! She was wanting us to stay in the room with her while she gave birth. We laid a towel down in the corner and sat around her; moments later she began to give birth.
It was so sweet how she wouldn’t have her kittens until we were there with her. Her behavior was very welcoming and calm. We did not handle her kittens right away, nor should we have in this situation as her location was secluded, comfortable, clean, with a fresh towel, we provided fresh water right next to her and even moved her litter box in there.
Once she was done giving birth, we caressed her some and closed the door half way and left the room. We let her and her kittens have some family time. We checked for any weak kittens needing attention; checking up on them every half hour or so.
What I wanted to convey from this personal experience is that, in our case, our momma cat’s location was safe, quiet, and clean so there was no need to move her and her kittens. We provided fresh water, gave her food at normal times, and checked on them to see if the kittens were being properly fed and cared for. Kittens should be feeding from their momma at least once an hour.
Over the next few days the kittens should be gaining weight at a normal pace. If they are not, it is recommend to call a vet right away as this could be a sign of near death. Another sign of death with young newborn kittens is if they are not moving much and are constantly crying as this could signal they are sick and/or are not receiving the care they need to survive.
Healthy kittens should have round bellies from being well-fed, they should sleep more than cry, and they should be kept warm.
Birthing location’s conditions
As mentioned above, the place where the mother cat gives birth to her kittens should be safe, quiet, clean, and accessible. The only reasons for which you can move the kittens is if they (mom included) are not safe, in a quiet or clean location, or not easily accessible.
SAFE
It is very important to make sure that the location where momma cat gives birth is safe. So what does “safe conditions” entail?
A safe place is somewhere that is away from humans and other animals (even daddy cat), and hazardous areas (next to stairs, for example). Basically no where in which the mom or the newborn kittens can get hurt or disturbed.
Examples of safe locations include (but are not limited to): a clean and spacious closet, a bathroom (not heavily used), a box with towel, a small secluded spare room, under a bed (this is debatable and depends entirely on the space and cleanliness under there) – {Any that I’m leaving off? Let us know below!}
Examples of non-safe locations included: a high foot-traffic area in your home, a garage/crowded room with lots of places kittens could get lost or stuck, areas where kittens can roam and fall (next to stairs, on a bed, etc.), and any other areas that you deem not safe or quiet, unclean, and inaccessible.
QUIET
It’s also crucial for the new mommy and kittens to have a quiet place to have some family time. Especially for the mommy, who may get anxious or upset if it’s too loud and may try to move her babies somewhere less noisy or disturbing.
CLEAN
Make sure the area is clean and not cluttered. Kittens are very fragile for the first 3-5 weeks of life. Keeping the area clean and safe for mom and kittens will ensure less potential hazards. Provide them with fresh towels or blankets to keep them comfortable and warm.
ACCESSIBLE
If the mom gives birth to kittens in a place that you do not have access to (small spaces or such) then it may be best to try to move them. For example, if momma cat gives birth to her kittens under the bed where you cannot checkup on them this way properly, it is best to try and move them to a more accessible location (like a closet).
Otherwise, if the location is easily accessible for you to checkup on them several times then the kittens do not necessarily need moving, unless the conditions are of course not safe, unclean, or not very quiet.
My cat had kittens can I move them ? Final thoughts
Though newborns are adorable and we all crave to hold them, resisting to touch them for the first 1-2 weeks is more beneficial. If mom detects strange scents or is suspicious of her babies being messed with, she could react negatively and even abandon one of her newborns.
Also, taking care of the kittens may not be as important as taking care of the new mommy. For example, making sure the kittens nails are trimmed will ensure that momma doesn’t get her mammary glands scratched which could lead to infection and inflammation. Checking the mother’s 8 mammary glands for pus, tenderness, size, etc. can help in determining if the mom is healthy enough to feed her babies. If her glands are bloody, oozing pus, or otherwise not normal-like, you should take her to the vet right away.
We hope you enjoy this incredible experience of a mother caring for her newborn babies! We hope everything will go well and that they all stay safe and healthy. Please use this advice as need be, but be aware that this information should not replace the advice from your local vet! We are happy to help in each way we can based from our own experiences, research, and knowledge of cats.
Thanks for following and reading Fluffy Kitty!
my cat actually just hat her first litter recently (about 2 days ago), and while we’re super excited, she had it in a not so favorable spot and we need to get her out of there ASAP. would there be any tips from moving the cat from that spot within a short timespan of the birth?
Hi there! So much cuteness at once 🙂 Make sure to pick a new spot first (quiet, warm, enough space, closed…). Make a little nest for them in that spot so they feel as comfortable as possible (you can use a box and blankets). Provide the mom with food and fresh water and don’t forget her litter box. Try to attract the mother a step away from her kittens (you can use treats). She should not be too close but she needs to be around to see what you are doing. Gently proceed and carry them to the new spot with their mom. It’s important you give them some time to adjust. Let them be for a while and check on them from time to time. It’s important that you keep them in a room you can close otherwise mommy kitty might try to bring them where she first had them and in your case it might be dangerous! I hope this help! Please let us know how it went! Take care
Mom 1 yr 5 babies 2 hours ago . Nosy, scared dad cat. Birthed under bed need to move. 2 at least are not detached cord. Want let her rest while they nurse. How long can I let her rest b4 getting them to an observable spot to string afterbirth off and cut cord, give her water, etc.
Hi Val thanks for letting us know your situation. Are you able to observe and reach them even though they are under the bed? If so, it is best to give the new mom a few hours to clean her babies. In the meantime let momma know your scent (give her treats, see if she lets you pet her). If she is not acting aggressively towards you or is defensive about your touching her babies, then try to gently move them somewhere else ( a big box with towel, a clean closet or an unused/not busy place where she can be with her babies in quiet. If you move them make sure that mommy can see and so she doesn’t get too worried.
As for the dad cat, just be cautious. Though cat dads can show parental signs of affection (licking babies, etc.) sometimes it can get dangerous as the cat dad may/may not get jealous/aggressive. I would wait a few days or even a week or two before letting cat dad around the babies unobserved. If he is scared it is best to let momma do her job and have some rest without worrying about the dad nosying about.
If the cords do not detach themselves, I read a veterinarian’s advice online saying to tie string around the cord (about one inch from the kittens belly) and then a small space away from that knot, tie another knot. Cut between the two knots, so that one string stays on momma’s side and the other string stays with the baby. The mom should pass the cord and clean up after that.
So to sum up:
– Try to prepare a place where you can observe them. In the meantime, see mom’s reaction when you go near her/her babies. If positive, you can try to gently move them to a more reachable spot.
– For now, keep cat dad at his distance. Once you can observe them in a safe place, you can monitor and let cat dad around just to see momma/babies.
– If the cords do not detach themselves, try the string method mentioned above and keep a close eye on them.
We hope this information is helpful and do not hesitate to update us on how things are going!
My cat had her kittens 22 days ago there are under my sink and keep falling out I tried to move them but momma moved them back what should I do they starting to walk and eyes are open please help!
Hi Sarah, thanks for stopping by FK. Congrats on your new litter. Not to worry, it is normal that momma cat is moving her babies back. I would try to move them from under the sink (especially because it must be noisy with lots of foot traffic and use of the sink!) Where is the new place your trying to move them? Find a comfy, large box and put a towel (or use the same one so momma feels like it’s the same birthing spot) and keep it in a separate, quiet room. The key is to show mom when you move her babies. If you can, close the door and give momma some time to settle with her kittens in her new spot.
You can also put the towel in a closet that is spacious, clean and is away from lots of foot traffic! Allow mum to adjust in her new space, it will be much easier for her to be somewhere level once her kittens start exploring and come back to nurse, play, etc. We hope this helps and good luck!
We had our first litter two days ago on my sons bed. We tried moveibg them to the floor but shebut them back on the bed. Need to move them when and how can I do it please
Jane, thanks for your message! Is there a place in your son’s room (clean closet, free corner, etc) where you can move them to? It seems like mom was comfortable enough to have her babies on your son’s bed so she would probably like to stay there. Free up the closet floor and place comfy blankets or towels (or even use the same dirty comforter she just had her babies on so the smell is still there – she’ll be less likely to move them again). Show mum the whole process so she can see everything your doing. If possible, encourage her to stay in the closet by shutting the door a little, to give her enough privacy and quiet time to adjust with her kittens. It is certain that the kittens should not stay on the bed because in a week or two once they start exploring more they could fall and it could be fatal. I would use the same sheets she gave birth on, and place them either in the closet in your sons room or in a private corner in a big comfy box so she feels protected. We wish you the best of luck and congrats on your new kitties!
Have a feral cat that when I opened the door came in . It was about to give birth. Went into basement bathroom and had behind a toilet. Very tight space. Poor mother is still wet. She is nursing . Would like to move her but she is growling when I get near. Litter box is near , but she has not used it. She is starting to smell . Help
Dear Sally,
This is a tricky situation, since as you mentioned the mother is a stray and therefore you are a stranger to her. This makes it complicated when you just want to help out. If she is growling and acting aggressive, we recommend not agitating her further. Provide her with fresh water and food nearby (like you correctly did with the litter box), and a blanket or even a toy so that maybe she will be encouraged to move out from the tight space. Place something that smells of you, like an old shirt or something so that she can get used to your smell. With some luck, she may start to trust you. If you cannot get near her, at least let her see you, so that you can demonstrate you are not a threat to her or her babies. Just monitor the situation for a few days to make sure her and the kittens look healthy. If you suspect she or her babies are ill, then don’t hesitate to call your vet and ask for further advice. We wish you the best of luck!
Hello.
My cat is an outside cat. She is only 10months and she just had her first litter of 4 yesterday. She had 2 outside and then 2 in my room. I have her in my room because she was trying to put the kittens in the bush, but she opens my door, grabs the kitten and takes the baby to the front door. I don’t want the babies outside because I am afraid she might put them back in the bush. What should I do? Please help! Thank you!
Hi Briana!
We just noticed our reply(ies) to comments made on the 21st April does not appear on the site. We are sorry for the inconvenience! Here is what we wrote in response to your question: It makes sense that your cat wants to keep her litter outside, since she is more an outdoor cat than indoor. What we recommend is to show her every move you make when you want to relocate her babies. You could get a box and take it outside, and then gently show mom that you put her babies inside, let her go inside and get comfortable. You could even make the box more “outdoorsy” for her, which may help keep her babies inside. Hopefully by now, the babies are on the path to walking around and momma is less strict on where she wants to keep them. Do let us know if you have any more questions and sorry again for the delay, we hope this comment stays this time!! Best of luck!
Ok, so my mother cat had birth in the bushes, as she is a outside cat, but heavy rains are coming and it might flood the area where she is. The kittens are less than a week old, but we need the get them out of there right away. Any suggestions?
Also, please try to respond as fast as possible.
Hi Isaac! Thank you for contacting us! If their safety is at stake, we highly recommend to bring them inside to protect them. Get a box with a towel big enough so mother cat can be in there with them. If mom cat is really stressed by being inside, maybe you guys have a shed / barn / garage where she can get out easily. Also keep an eye on them as she might try to bring them back to the place where they used to be. If floods were coming we would definitely bring them inside and see how mom responds. Once they are about 8-10 weeks old, make sure to get them spayed/neutered. Good luck with everything and thank you again for visiting us! Let us know how it went for you 🙂
Hi i need some advice please. There is an outdoor cat that a week ago gave birth to 4 kittens in my back yard. The mom ive known for 2 years now, i,ve been feeding her from time to time so she trusts me enough to let me touch her though not to much. The problem is that the last 3 days we have a heat wave, its at least 35-40°C in the shade (feels even worse than that) and she gave birth in a small but tall bucket in which she can barely fit which i think makes the heat way worse because there isn’t much air circulation. The bucket is well shaded but its still too hot. Today i found 1 of the kittens dead 🙁 (i don’t know if it was because of the heat or something else). So i waited for her to finish feeding them and i moved the rest of the kittens into a more shallow and better ventilated box right next to the original bucket, in front of her while she was eating. When she finished though instead of going to her kittens she went back to the original bucket alone even though she could see and hear her kittens in the other box literally 50cm away!!!! For now ive left them to see what she does but if she doesn’t go to them i don’t know what to do!
Hi Kiri,
Thanks for reaching out! We’re so sorry to hear about one of those precious kittens 🙁 Indeed, 35-40 degrees is quite hot and even in the shade it can just be too much for them. If momma is insisting on the bucket, could you try to find a big, spacious cardboard box and then lay the bucket down inside so mom can lay inside if she wants to, while the kittens are just next to her safely protected in the box? What has she done since? Once my cat had kittens and she ignored them for a few hours, I was kinda worried but she went back to them no problem (moms do need breaks every now and then, haha). If you can move them in the box to a cooler area definitely try to do so. Always provide fresh, clean water. We suppose you’re the main caretaker of the mom since 2 years? Would you consider “unofficially” adopting her as your own and then take her to see a vet and get spayed? The kittens, if you can’t keep them, could use loving homes so taking them to an adoption shelter once they are of age (8 weeks, for example) would be wonderful!
Best of luck and keep us updated!
hi thanks for the quick reply. the good news is that the mom actually moved to the cooler box with her kittens by her self (i guess she just needed a break like you said) and the weather is finally getting a bit cooler. the bad news is that the kittens seem to be a bit sick because some of them have runny noses which i think is preventing them from finding moms nipples… I am actually not moms main caretaker, my neighborhood has always had many stray cats but they r usually well because everybody gives them food not just me. I have my own 1 year old cat with 4 2month old kittens. The stray mom knows me enough to let me get close to the kittens even touch them but she wont let me put her or them to a carrier to take them to the vet. If they manage to grow up they can have good lives even without going to a shelter. we actually only have 1 shelter here and i think its way full already. For now i will try to gently clean their noses in the hopes that the can nurse better.
Thanks again for your help with the moving part but now i realize my problems seem to be moving outside the scope of this specific post. That said any more advice is always welcome
Glad to hear that the weather is starting to cool down and mum went back to her babies! Just out of curiosity, are there any local shelters or vets that ever run cheap campaigns to spay and neuter pets in the community? If so, it would help prevent additional strays and control the feral population! For the kittens, it’s common for them to have respiratory infections at a young age, that’s why it’s also important to have them vaccinated if possible. Just keep an eye on them and provide fresh water of course 🙂 They may also develop a cough, and so if they become worse make sure they are still able to get nourishment from mom and that mom also is healthy and doesn’t have an infection herself. Thanks for sharing your experience with us! Hopefully we were able to help just a little!