Will a Mother Cat Kill a Sick Kitten?

A mother cat is, by nature, very protective of its kittens and it is not her instinct to kill her own babies. However, there are certain circumstances under which the mother cat sometimes kills her kittens in self-defense or for survival. ... So, the mother kills the kitten and sometimes even eats it to recover energy.

Will a mother cat reject a sick kitten?

Illness Or Deformity

Sometimes a mom will reject a sick kitten to avoid spreading the illness to the others. It's not always the "runt" who is ill. A mother cat may also reject a physically deformed kitten, such as a "Janus" cat, even though the kitten is otherwise perfectly healthy.

Will a mother cat eat a sick kitten?

A mother cat may to eat her kittens if they're stillborn, sick, or have birth defects when they're born. ... Similarly, if you see her taking away a sick kitten from the rest, feed and take care of the kitten separately and have it checked by the vet, too.

Alexander Ross

Alexander Ross

Gaming, Esports & Interactive Media Writer

Alexander Ross has covered the video game industry for a decade, writing deep dives on game design, esports tournaments, VR developments, and gaming culture.