If you’ve heard that male cats would possibly typically hurt or kill kittens, you’re possible studying this now to see if there may be any fact to it. This is especially crucial if in case you have a male cat and are contemplating adopting a kitten.
Unfortunately, it is a brutal fact to listen to. While it isn’t widespread, male cats have been recognized to kill kittens they haven’t fathered.
We’ll get into why a male cat would possibly damage a kitten and every other reactions they may have in direction of a kitten. In the top, it’s finest to have as a lot data as attainable so you might be higher ready to maintain your kitten protected.
Why Would a Male Cat Hurt or Kill a Kitten?
It’s not unusual to see cats of both intercourse exhibiting aggression or combating, which is usually based mostly on territoriality. Instinctively, male cats battle for territory in order that they get to mate with the females of their territory and father kittens.
If a male cat encounters a kitten that he hasn’t fathered, he could instinctively kill it for certainly one of two causes.
Instinct
A male cat’s intuition could drive him to kill kittens he hasn’t fathered. This could cause their mom to enter warmth once more, and subsequently, it could enable him the chance to mate together with her and father his personal kittens, thereby passing his genes alongside.
This is the commonest purpose why a male cat could kill kittens, and it serves an evolutionary objective of making certain {that a} male who is powerful sufficient to assert a territory passes his genes alongside to provide genetically sturdy offspring.
This type of infanticide is quite common in lots of species of cats. It is most frequently attributed to lions; nevertheless, even leopards, tigers, pumas, and plenty of different feline species show this trait. Domestic cats, who share ancestry with the African wild cat, have retained this intuition. In cats, this habits is most noticed amongst feral animals and unneutered males.
Territory
Male cats might also kill kittens in the event that they really feel because the kittens are a menace to their territory and should result in competitors for sources. This habits could also be noticed in feral cats however is taken into account very uncommon in pet cats. The rationale is {that a} mature cat could pose a menace to their territory and longevity and would possibly put up a greater battle than a smaller kitten.
Can Female Cats Defend Their Kittens?
Female cats usually are not totally defenseless in opposition to a male’s hostile strategy and could possibly defend their kittens at instances. The females of some species, resembling lions, type teams (often known as prides). One of the advantages of a pleasure is that a number of feminine lionesses are in a position to put up a battle in opposition to an intruding male higher than a lone lioness can. They also can share mothering duties with one another.
Feral cats additionally stay in colonies, and these colonies are known as a clowder or obtrusive. At instances, the females could battle off an intruding male collectively, as not one of the females would wish to threat shedding their kittens to an intruder, even when he’s after the kittens of one other cat of their clowder. At different instances, even a lone feminine could battle a male out of maternal instincts.
A feminine cat in warmth could mate with a number of males and produce a litter that’s fathered by multiple tomcat. This is a technique to scale back incidences of shedding their kittens to a male, as a male that has mated with the feminine could not attack a kitten even when he hasn’t fathered the kitten.
Finally, almost all feminine cats, no matter their species, choose to provide start in a really quiet, secluded space, thus minimizing the chance of a male discovering their kittens. They additionally are likely to regularly transport their kittens to different locations in the event that they really feel as if one thing is amiss. This is a part of the rationale why a feminine cat could, at instances, deliver her kittens to you – she would possibly affiliate you with security!
Do Female Cats Kill Kittens?
Unfortunately, that is additionally one thing that may happen, though it’s fairly uncommon. The commonest purpose a mom cat will kill her personal kittens is that she senses one thing is incorrect with a number of of her young.
This habits could possibly be resulting from her maternal instincts sensing an sickness or some sort of abnormalities in her kitten. It’s thought that the mom would possibly view this kitten as a threat for herself or the remainder of her kittens, as a lifeless kitten would possibly entice different predators to her den.
Another attainable purpose why a mom cat would possibly hurt her kittens is stress. This is extra more likely to occur with first-time moms or if they provide start in a disturbing atmosphere. But once more, we should stress that it is a very uncommon incidence. Most mom cats take superb care of their young.
Female cats could, at instances, kill the young of different females they’re in competitors with. Again, this kind of instinctive strategy to infanticide is mostly noticed in feral cats and different species of untamed cats.
Can Male Cats Take Care of Kittens?
There have been many instances of grownup male cats caring for kittens that aren’t their very own. This isn’t typical habits in feral colonies since caring for the young is normally a job accomplished by feminine cats; males are sometimes vying for territory.
Feral males (or tomcats) don’t usually work on elevating or defending their very own kittens since they’re busy breeding and marking their territory.
But domesticated males, notably if they’re neutered, are more likely to be protecting and affectionate in direction of kittens. Pet cats will be extra relaxed and even playful with kittens, particularly if they’re effectively taken care of, as they wouldn’t really feel compelled to compete with different cats for sources.
And then there are instances of male cats taking up a mothering function, like Henry, an 8-month-old ginger tabby. Henry took care of six kittens discovered deserted in a field on the facet of the street in Ketchikan, Alaska – Henry helped to save lots of these kitten’s lives!
How Do Most Male Pet Cats Respond to Kittens?
For essentially the most half, the common male cat will ignore or simply present basic disinterest in kittens they’re conversant in. But as we mentioned earlier, others will present their paternal facet and spend time taking part in with and grooming the kittens. If they run into an unfamiliar kitten, their preliminary response is normally a better inspection (typically by sniffing the kitten). They could, at instances, turn out to be startled if a kitten approaches them quietly and resort to lashing out or hissing. How males reply to any kittens depends upon their temperament and whether or not they’re neutered or not.
Neutering a cat could make a world of distinction in how they reply not simply to kittens however to any cat in addition to their proprietor. The intuition to dominate and defend their territory is far increased for an intact male.
The hormone ranges in a neutered cat are a lot decrease, and so they are typically calmer round different cats.
That being stated, there may be nonetheless the potential for a neutered male attacking a kitten. Being neutered doesn’t fully take aggression out of the equation. However, reported incidences are exceptionally uncommon and normally anecdotal, and fatalities are even rarer.
How Can You Protect Kittens From Harm? 4 Effective Ways
As we’ve stated a variety of instances already, it’s not as possible for a home male cat to hurt a kitten. But it’s nonetheless important to take steps, nonetheless.
1. Neuter Male Cats
If you might have an intact male cat and plan to deliver young kittens into your home, think about having your cat neutered. This ought to assist to scale back any aggressive behaviors in direction of your kittens.
2. Slow Introductions
Kittens which can be new to your home ought to be slowly and thoroughly launched to your present cat. This includes a quarantine interval and ample acclimation of one another’s scent earlier than a visible and a bodily introduction is tried.
3. Create Barriers
In some instances, you would possibly must create obstacles so your male cat can’t attain the kittens in any means. This is particularly essential if the male is unneutered. This is likely to be crucial for those who all of a sudden end up adopting a kitten (resembling a rescue) with out prior planning.
You may spend money on a pet gate with the kittens in a protected room or place your kittens in a playpen (though it is going to want a canopy of some variety since an grownup cat may simply soar in).
4. Wait Until They Are Older
Again, relying on the male cat, it’s finest to maintain young kittens away from them. Typically it’s safer when the kittens are about 8 to 10 weeks old to be launched to the male.
And identical to any introduction between two animals, it’d take a number of weeks for the grownup cat to turn out to be accustomed to the kitten.
Conclusion
Remember that male cats, or cats generally, usually are not dangerous or evil. Everything they do depends upon their instincts and their evolutionary behaviors. As a lot as we anthropomorphize our cats, they’re nonetheless animals with pure instincts that kick in when triggered.
Many neutered male cats are fairly loving and mild and could be fantastic with kittens. But it’s all the time higher to be protected than sorry. Be positive to maintain them underneath fixed supervision. Some cats would possibly play somewhat roughly and unintentionally injure a kitten.
Consider chatting with your vet as effectively earlier than any introductions. They might help you thru the method, as a very powerful factor is to maintain everybody protected.
Featured Image Credit: rihaij, Pixabay
