Cat's Instinct: Killing Kittens, Why Does It Happen?

It's not uncommon for mother cats to reject or abandon their kittens. While cats are often considered solitary, they do exhibit social behaviours and live in groups similar to the pride structure of lions. In these groups, females are dominant, and males are usually only present for mating. Male cats may kill kittens that are not theirs to ensure that they only expend energy raising their own offspring. Mother cats may kill their kittens due to a number of reasons, including a lack of maternal instinct, the presence of a threat, or to protect their kittens from predators. Kittens born with abnormalities or during an inopportune time of year are more likely to be rejected or killed.

Male cats may kill kittens to protect their genes

In the wild, male cats, such as lions, will sometimes kill or even eat their young. Domesticated cats share ancestry with the African wild cat and have retained this instinct. This behaviour is most commonly observed in feral cats, where males compete for territory and mating rights.

The presence of other male cats, especially those that are unneutered, can pose a threat to newborn kittens. Unneutered males have higher levels of sex hormones, which can drive aggressive and territorial behaviours. They are more likely to perceive kittens as intruders or rivals and may resort to killing them to eliminate competition.

However, it is important to note that not all male cats exhibit this behaviour. Neutered males, for example, tend to have reduced aggression due to lower hormone levels and are more likely to tolerate or even display paternal behaviour towards kittens. Additionally, socialisation plays a role, with males that are well-socialised around other cats being less likely to resort to infanticide.

To protect newborn kittens, it is advisable to separate them from other male cats, especially those that are unneutered, until they are older. Providing a safe and secure environment for the mother cat and her litter can help reduce the risk of male cats harming the kittens. Socialising cats at a young age can also promote peaceful cohabitation and reduce aggression.

Male cats may kill kittens to mate with the mother

Male cats may kill kittens to mate with their mother. This behaviour is driven by the instinct to pass their genes on to offspring. If a male cat encounters a kitten that he hasn't fathered, he may kill it for one of two reasons.

Firstly, male cats may kill another male's offspring to bring the female back into heat, allowing him to mate with her and father his own kittens. This behaviour is common in many species of cat, including lions, leopards, tigers, and pumas. Domestic cats have retained this instinct from their shared ancestry with the African wild cat. This behaviour is most often observed in feral cats and unneutered males.

Secondly, male cats may kill kittens if they feel threatened by them. If a kitten is a threat to their territory and resources, a male cat may kill it. This behaviour is considered very rare in pet cats and is more commonly observed in feral cats.

Male cats rely on scent to determine who has fathered kittens. If a male cat smells the scent of a rival tomcat, he may decide that the kittens in his territory have been fathered by the visiting tomcat. Consequently, he may kill those kittens to ensure that his queens do not raise kittens fathered by a rival male.

It is important to note that not all male cats will kill kittens. This behaviour is less common in neutered males, as their sex hormones do not drive their behaviour to the same extent as unneutered males. Socialised male cats that are familiar with the presence of other cats may also be less likely to exhibit this behaviour.

Mother cats may kill their kittens if they sense danger

In some cases, mother cats may kill their kittens if they believe they are a threat to their other offspring. For example, if a litter is too large, a mother cat may reject and kill some kittens to save milk for the others. Kittens that are sick or physically deformed may be rejected and killed to avoid spreading illness to the rest of the litter.

Additionally, mother cats may kill their kittens if they are stressed or confused about their mothering role. This can be due to premature motherhood, a traumatic birth experience, or a lack of maternal instincts. In some cases, mother cats may accidentally kill their kittens by biting down too hard during transport, which can be particularly common in first-time mothers.

It is important to note that kitten killing is more common in inexperienced or highly stressed mothers, and it is recommended to provide support and compassion to struggling cat mothers.

Mother cats may kill their kittens if they are ill or deformed

Additionally, some kittens are born with abnormalities that humans cannot detect. These kittens may have reduced chances of survival, and the mother cat may not want to waste energy on raising them. In such cases, the mother cat may eat her kittens to recoup some of the energy lost during pregnancy and increase her chances of successfully rearing future kittens.

Furthermore, first-time mother cats or young mothers may accidentally kill their kittens due to confusion or skittishness. They may bite down too hard while trying to carry their kittens, panicking and biting further if the kitten squeals in pain.

It is important to note that kitten rejection or abandonment by mother cats can also occur due to various other reasons, such as stress, premature motherhood, or large litter sizes.

Mother cats may kill their kittens if they are inexperienced

Inexperienced mother cats may also be more prone to acting on their hunting instincts. If kittens play too much, female cats may not be able to switch off their hunting mode and could end up killing their offspring. Kittens resemble prey in size, sound, and movement, which can trigger hunting behaviour in mother cats.

In addition, inexperienced mother cats may be more susceptible to stress and anxiety, which can impact their ability to care for their kittens. They may become nervous and confused, leading to aggressive behaviour towards their kittens.

Furthermore, first-time mothers may be more likely to reject or abandon their kittens due to a lack of maternal skills. They may act confused or disinterested, struggling to relax and allow the kittens to suckle.

It is important to provide support and compassion to mother cats, especially those who are inexperienced, to help ensure the well-being of both the cats and their kittens.

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