The bond between a mother cat and her kittens is strong. So when the kittens leave, does the mother cat feel sad and mourn their absence? This is a common question for cat owners who need to rehome kittens or send them to new homes.
In this article, we’ll explore the emotional lives of cats and examine the evidence around whether cats truly experience grief or sadness when separated from their young.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Research suggests that mother cats likely feel stress when their kittens are taken away, especially within the first few weeks. However, it’s unclear if cats have the cognitive capacity for the complex emotion of grief.
The Mother-Kitten Bond
Kittens Rely Heavily on Their Mothers At First
Newborn kittens are completely dependent on their mothers for survival. They are born with their eyes and ears closed, and cannot regulate their own body temperature or eliminate waste on their own. Mother cats keep their kittens warm by curling around them in the nest and stimulate them to urinate and defecate by licking their bottoms.
Kittens rely on their mother’s milk for all their nutrition in the first few weeks of life.
As kittens grow over the first 2 months, they become more mobile and curious about their surroundings. However, they still nurse frequently and rely on their mother’s care. Around 4-6 weeks, kittens begin eating solid food, but may continue nursing until 2-3 months old.
Even as kittens become more independent, the mother cat continues to watch over, groom, and teach them appropriate behaviors.
Mother Cats Communicate with Their Kittens
Mother cats have a close bond with their kittens and communicate in various ways. They use vocalizations like purring, chirping, growling, and hissing to signal contentment, greeting, warning, or defense.
Mother cats also use body language and pheromones to relate to their kittens. They calm or comfort kittens by grooming, nuzzling, or sleeping curled up with them. They use scent marking by rubbing their head on kittens to indicate affection and ownership.
If needed, mother cats may pick up kittens by the scruff to move them back to the nest.
As kittens mature, the mother cat uses cat disciplinary behaviors like hissing or light swats to teach them proper etiquette. She rewards desirable kitten behaviors like using the litterbox with positive reinforcement like treats or praise.
Separation Causes Stress Hormones in Mother Cats
Veterinarians recommend keeping kittens with their mother cat until at least 8-12 weeks old, as early separation can cause behavioral issues. Separating a mother cat from her kittens earlier than 8 weeks has been found to cause elevated stress hormones in the mother cat that can persist for weeks (study).
These stress hormones are a sign that premature separation negatively impacts the mother cat’s well-being. Separating kittens under 7 weeks old has also been linked to future behavioral problems like increased timidity or aggression (study).
Keeping kittens with their mother for at least 8-12 weeks allows time for proper socialization and learning that reduces stress for both.
If you must separate a mother cat and kittens before 8 weeks due to adoption, try to keep some kittens with the mother if possible. Gradual separation of a few kittens at a time reduces separation anxiety compared to all at once.
Also give the mother cat extra attention and comfort to ease the transition.
Do Cats Grieve?
The emotional lives of cats are complex. While they may seem aloof, cats form strong bonds with their human and feline families. The loss of a loved one can be very distressing for cats.
The Emotional Lives of Cats Are Complex
Cats have historically had a reputation for being independent and unemotional. However, research shows that cats form strong social bonds and feel emotions like contentment, anxiety, fear, and grief (1). Cats become attached to their families and routines.
When those bonds are disrupted, they can become stressed or depressed.
There Is Limited Evidence of Grief in Cats
Observations of grieving behaviors in cats include:
- Searching for the lost companion
- Excessive vocalizing or crying
- Loss of appetite
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Increased anxiety or restlessness
However, systematic studies on feline grief are limited (2). More research is needed to fully understand how cats cope with loss.
Cats May Become Stressed and Depressed
When a cat suffers the loss of a companion, whether animal or human, they can become stressed or depressed. Signs include changes in behavior like aggression, avoiding social contact, lack of grooming, and urinating outside the litter box (3).
To help a grieving cat, stick to regular routines, give them extra love and attention, and consider synthetic feline pheromones to provide comfort. With time and support, most cats will adjust to the loss.
While grieving looks different in cats than humans, their emotional bonds run deep. Losing a loved one is hard for anyone, including our feline friends. With patience and care, cat owners can help their pets through the grieving process.
References:
(1) https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/2/2/128
(2) https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk491/files/inline-files/Cats-grieving.pdf
(3) https://pets.webmd.com/cats/guide/cats-grieving-loss-of-another-cat
When to Separate Kittens from Their Mother
Kittens Still Need Mother’s Care At 8 Weeks
Kittens rely on their mothers for essential nourishment, care, and socialization in the first 8 weeks of their lives. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), kittens should ideally stay with their mothers until they reach 12 weeks of age.
Separating them earlier can jeopardize their health and development.
For the first month after birth, kittens are completely dependent on their mother’s milk for nutrients, antibodies, and hydration. As they grow, the mother cat begins introducing solid food while continuing to nurse them.
Weaning is a gradual process that is usually completed around 8-12 weeks as the kittens grow teeth and develop the ability to eat on their own.
However, nursing provides more than just nourishment. The mother cat stimulates urination/defecation, keeps the kittens warm, and teaches them behaviors essential for becoming happy, well-adjusted cats through 12 weeks.
Veterinarians caution against separating kittens before 12 weeks unless medically necessary, even if they seem capable of eating solid food earlier than that.
Gradual Separation May Be Easier on Mother Cat
When the time comes to separate kittens, the process should be gradual over 3-4 weeks to give the mother cat time to adjust. An abrupt separation can cause distress, anxiety, restlessness, loss of appetite, and excessive vocalizations in mother cats.
Initially, try separating the kittens into another room at night and reuniting them during the day for nursing. As they get older, increase the amount of time they are separated while providing ample food, litter boxes, stimulation, and social time with humans/other pets.
By 12-16 weeks, the kittens should be fully weaned and independent from their mother.
Pay attention to the mother cat’s behavior during separation. Signs of anxiety, such as hiding, aggression, not eating, or obsessively wandering while crying, indicate that more gradual steps may be needed before fully separating the kittens.
Work with Your Vet to Time Separation Appropriately
| 12 weeks | Ideal age for kitten separation according to ASPCA |
| 8-12 weeks | Range for completing weaning process |
| 3-4 weeks | Gradual separation transition timeframe |
Check with your veterinarian before separating kittens, especially if they show signs of illness or the mother cat’s milk supply seems inadequate. In some cases, keeping them together a few weeks longer may be best for the kittens’ health.
If an orphaned kitten or an abandoned litter comes into your care, contact a foster/rescue group immediately for advice. Very young kittens have specific nutritional, developmental, medical, and social needs for healthy growth.
With guidance from your vet and/or an experienced foster caretaker, even bottle-fed neonates can grow up to become thriving, well-adjusted cats. Patience and a plan tailored to each kitten’s needs makes all the difference.
Caring for a Mother Cat After Separation
Keep the Mother Cat’s Routine Consistent
When kittens are taken away from their mother cat, it can be an emotional event for her. To help ease the transition, keep her daily routine as consistent as possible. Feed her meals at the same times, engage her in play when she typically had playtime with her kittens, and make sure she has access to all of the areas of the home she is used to accessing.
Additionally, place familiar items with the scents of her kittens in her beds and play areas, like blankets and toys. This can provide some comfort. Avoid any big changes to her environment. The consistency can help reduce stress and feelings of loss or sadness.
Spend More Time with the Mother Cat
With her kittens gone, the mother cat may be left craving companionship and interaction. Spend plenty of quality time bonding with her through play, petting, brushing, and just sitting with her purring in your lap. Increase the amount of affection and attention you give her.
Set aside at least 2-3 play sessions per day with interactive toys like wands and laser pointers. Additionally, consider adopting another cat or kitten to be her friend. Introduce them slowly. Having a new furry playmate can lift her spirits.
Watch for Signs of Depression and Consult Your Vet
Some signs of depression after kittens leave include decreased appetite, low energy levels, excessive sleeping, lack of interest in toys or activities she used to enjoy, anxiety, and irritability. If these last more than a few days or seem severe, contact your veterinarian.
There are supplements and medications that can help manage sadness and grief in pets. For example, Zylkene and Anxitane help relieve stress or anxiety in cats. Your vet may suggest trying a synthetic feline facial pheromone like Feliway to help her mood as well.
Stay attuned to her behavior each day to catch problems early.
According to an ASPCA veterinary expert, the majority of mother cats are resilient after weaning and recover their typical enthusiastic personalities within 1-2 weeks. But sensitive animals may benefit from vet prescribed remedies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do kittens need their mother?
Kittens should stay with their mother for at least 8-12 weeks after birth. During this time, the mother cat nurses her kittens and teaches them important life skills like using the litter box, grooming, and hunting.
Separating kittens too early can lead to issues like poor litter box habits, behavior problems, and trouble interacting with other cats. So even though kittens are super cute, it’s best to leave them with mom until they are about 3 months old.
What happens if kittens are separated too early?
Kittens that are taken away from their mother too soon often suffer both mentally and physically. Here are some of the common issues kittens can develop:
- Failure to thrive – Without mother’s milk, kittens may fail to gain weight and grow properly.
- Illness – They miss out on antibodies from mom’s milk that protect them from diseases.
- Behavior issues – Lack of mom’s discipline can make kittens more likely to bite, have litter box accidents, etc.
- Social problems – They might struggle to properly interact with other cats.
- Mental health problems – Early separation causes stress that negatively impacts brain development.
Kittens taken from their mom before 8 weeks have a much higher chance of developing issues like these down the road. It’s heartbreaking, but well worth the wait to keep kittens with mom another month or so.
Do father cats care for their kittens?
Many people assume that only mother cats look after kittens, but fathers can play an important role too! Here’s information on dad cats and kittens:
| When present | Over 90% of father cats in one study provided some care like grooming, playing, guarding and even nursing kittens. |
| Why participate | Experts think evolution rewards father cat involvement with faster kitten growth and better survival rates. |
| Who sticks around | Fathers are more likely to care for a litter they’ve mated with vs. step-children from new mates. |
So while mom definitely does the bulk of the work, don’t underestimate doting cat dads! Their interactions stimulate essential kitten development and can give the overworked mama cat a break now and then.
Conclusion
While the research is still unclear on whether cats truly grieve, it’s evident that the bond between a mother cat and her kittens is special. Separating kittens from their mother can be stressful for both.
By timing separation appropriately, keeping mom’s routine consistent, and providing extra comfort, cat owners can ease this transition for a mother cat. Understanding a cat’s emotional needs takes patience, care, and plenty of love.
