Cat question

This is my first posting. Just looking for some opinions.

I took in a stray cat this summer who turned out to be pregnant. She gave birth to 2 females who are now 8 weeks old. I do not want to separate the kittens, as they are each other's playmate, but don't know if it would work to keep the whole family together (I am willing to keep all three if I think it will work). I read on some sites that mother will become aggressive to her babies as they get older, and siblings may turn on one another. Also I have a dog in the household who is getting regularly hissed at and swiped at by momma cat defending her babies (even when there is really no threat to their safety). My dog doesn't bark at or bother the cats, but the mother watches her like a hawk anyway.

Do you think it's okay to separate kittens from one another to be adopted out (no one seems willing to take them both).

Do you think momma cat would be okay to stay with babies long-term?

I would like to settle this issue!

Lisa

I really have no clear answer for you. Some mother cats will live happily their whole lives with their kittens and others will try to drive them off, but I would say the odds are that they will be okay.

Siblings generally continue to get along just fine. Some may be more closely bonded than others. Of course, everyone must be spayed and neutered as intact cats don't get along very well.

If your mom cat is not spayed, I suggest you do this right now. This will probably improve the odds of her staying friendly with her kittens, as some cats in heat do try and chase off kittens to make room for a new litter.

It's normal for her to defend her babies from the dog even if the dog isn't hurting them.

Thanks for saving this cat!:)

What Lucky Rescue said.....

..and Thank You from me too!

Thanks to you both for replying.

I am going to try to keep my family together and hope my dog survives being outnumbered 3-to-1! :)

YW :)

My dog is outnumbered 3 - 1 as well, but she feels much safer now that my youngest cat is out of kittenhood and stopping ambushing her and biting her tail. :p

If you (and your dog) can survive the Kitten Krazies, it should be fine!

I commend you for decided to keep the whole family as opposed to spliting them up. That's a big responsibilty. Best of luck with your new family :angel: :party:

Yes thanks for saving the kitties :angel: .....
:crazy: welcome to the board :thumbs up

I had a cat that had a litter and I kept 2 of her offspring.
I got TC the mom fixed and also tiger and tippy both males. They all got along fine. That was 17 years ago, although tippy has passed away I still have TC and Tiger Mom hisses at him all the time, they dont play with each other (however tippy and tiger played all the time) but tiger still respects TC an just moves out of her way. ;)

Lisjo,a great big "Thank you"from me to :thumbs up you are doing a wonderful thing and I am sure the kitties will be ok :crazy: and your dog,what kind is he??