at what age are kittens safe from tomcats

Tomcats are bigger and stronger than kittens and can hurt them if they fight. But when are kittens safe from tomcats? Some cats hit puberty as young as 4 months, while it can take over a year for others. Taking these precautions will keep both kittens and pets safe and sound in their environment. When a cat is pregnant, you may also note changes in appetite. Let them sniff each other out first, and if everything seems okay, let them explore their new surroundings together. Although cat fertility decreases with age, it is not uncommon for an older cat of 10 years to give birth. With adequate sunlight, a cat can give birth to roughly to or three litters a years, 4-5 kittens per litter. As a result, the male cats hunting instinct is triggered, causing them to kill their litter. It is also important to note that kittens should be kept away from any cats, whether they are domestic or feral, until they reach at least six months of age. The most troublesome senior cat pregnancy complications include: Rest assured, a healthy delivery is 100% possible with regular vet visits, a switch to high-calorie and uber-nutritional kitten food, and a generally stress-free environment (or refuge). Your email address will not be published. Also, perfumed oils can be effective, albeit they can have a strong odor. Rather, weaning should be a gradual process in which they alternate between nursing and eating cat food, slowly. As your puppy nears age one (up to two years for a large breed), theyre beginning to look and act more mature. First, keep them indoors until they are at least four months old. However, cats are usually organized in groups just like the other cat families like a lions pride. Killing kittens is a necessary element of establishing their dominion. Adolescence in cats is their teenage phase. Domestic male cats as well as male cats in the wild arent known for their fathering skills. A cat's heat cycles will continue for the rest of her life, enabling her to have kittens whether she's four months old during her first heat cycle or 17 years old and well into her senior years. When a female goes into heat -- also called estrus -- it basically means she is ready to mate with tomcats. Community cats who are currently nursing should be released back to their environment only when they are alert and moving around normally. Bringing home a new kitten is definitely fun, but it may present a few challenges if you already own a male cat. Why do Mom cats bite their kittens throat? Intact males typically leave the homes where they were raised between 1 and 3 years of age. These hormones may invite sexual advances from tomcats but she is not ready to mate. Depending on the breed, size and lifestyle that has led, a cat can be fertile until 10-12 years. There is a common misconception that kittens and tomcats cant be friends, but this simply isnt true. When a queen enters a six-day heat cycle, the hormonal spikes will trigger behavioral changes, with many linked to the desire to mate, such as: A queen in heat and a tomcat in rut will both court one another via distressed yowling and fragrant urine trails. Tom cats are responsible for the paternity of their offspring and can have multiple kittens with different mothers. ASPCA Professional: Pediatric Spay/Neuter. Its a legitimate concern, as cats can be territorial and aggressive toward each other. , Best Outdoor: Natures Mace Cat Repellent at Naturesmace.com. Find out in this blog post! Aside from that, texture and visual sorts of deterrents can be used. If either animal seems stressed or unhappy, its best to separate them and try again another day. Tom cats are known for killing kittens. They do not want the females to raise kittens that belong to his rivals. Again, exceptions do occur. This can be a great time to introduce them to other tomcats. At first, everything was OK, but after couple of weeks the male started attacking one of the kittens, to the point that I had to take the kitty for life saving surgery. Early puberty is especially common in breeds such as the Siamese, while others, such as the fluffy Himalayan, are comparatively late bloomers. This is because tomcats can be very aggressive towards kittens, and may even kill them. Its understandable to be concerned, as feral cats are wild animals that can be dangerous. Yes, a mother cat will defend her kittens. How to Keep Your Kitten Safe From Tomcats. AskMyCats.com does not intend to provide veterinary advice. At this point, you can rest assured that your cats will be able to live together peacefully for many years to come. Due to the fact that cats can have kittens from their first heat, it is important to establish precautions from when they are young. Thats because shes pregnant. The key to keeping your kitten safe from tomcats is to make sure that theyre introduced slowly and carefully. According to the ASPCA, there are approximately 70 million homeless cats on the streets and in shelters, and they all were kittens at one point. Kittens must be socialized to be comfortable around other cats, including tomcats. It can be used as a border. Are you worried about your kittens safety when a tomcat is around? At this age, you might see bursts of puppy energy levels and continued boundary testing. If your new cat is a similar size to your resident kitty, or they are both males, their instincts may cause them to be aggressive. The answer is often as simple as making sure they get lots of exercise and activities to tire them out physically and mentally. Queens are dominated by feline protective aggressiveness for the first three to four weeks after the kittens are born. Yes, the surgery will not affect a mother's milk production. Therefore, while a tomcat can attack kittens, some steps can be taken to prevent this from happening. As a general rule, cats are sensitive when it comes to smells, but there are a few scents they hate that might just surprise you. Unless you watch Fluffy like a hawk and keep her strictly indoors, it could take weeks to realize shes expecting. By following these tips, you can keep your beloved pet safe from wild or feral cats. A tomcat refers to an un-neutered, sexually mature male cat, regardless of what breed he is. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hello everyone and welcome to the blog. They reach full size and sexual maturity by six months of age. Dominant males have also been observed caring for kittens within their own colonies. In the feline world, theres no such thing as menopause. Feral tomcats may keep an eye on the kittens while the mother cat is out looking for food. This is also known as 'fixing', 'neutering' or 'being done'. Second, tom cats see kittens as a potential threat to their own offspring. For more, read everything to know about a cat in heat. You may notice your puppy likes to play-fight with other dogs around this age. The main factor which influences cat heat is sunlight. In addition, well be discussing your cats pregnancy timeline, as well as how many kittens cats can have. Because of their small size, male cats may mistake them for their small prey, injuring or killing them. Of course, in the feline world, there are all kinds of exceptions, and if you want to find out more . For most pet owners, is recommended to spay / neuter kittens by 5 months of age in order to prevent unwanted litters, according to the American Animal Hospitals Association. Tomcats are known to be territorial. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. how long does it take for a cat to give birth. At 6-8 weeks of age, kittens are not ready to stop nursing. Tomcats are usually not present to protect their offspring, though a colony male tom may drive away any intruders that may try to come in their territory mostly to protect their space rather than to secure the young ones. Most the household has domestic cats living with them. A male cat is called a tom or tomcat (or a gib, if neutered). There have been no studies to determine whether rogue fathers pass on their tendencies to their offspring because they rarely have access to the kittens. As long as a queen cat is sexually mature, she can carry a litter of kittens. The author of this article is a student at the University of Oxford. Your Kittens are safe from the above killing situations by father cat and kittens once they gain weight up to 2 pounds at least that usually happens when a kitten completes 8 to 12 weeks after the birth . If another male cat leaves his smell on a father cats territory, for example, he may become confused. Are male cats aggressive towards kittens? What My Dog Should Eat After Giving Birth. female since they are frequently in competition with other male cats, male cats have a proclivity for killing their own kittens, queen cat would most likely be protective of her babies, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0093691X12002087, https://www.petplace.com/article/cats/pet-behavior-training/how-mother-cats-take-care-of-kittens/, Do Black Cats Shed? But I have known some Toms that will kill more violently than that. Summary: It is best to keep kittens away from adult male cats until they are about four months old. If youre concerned about your puppy being too energetic, talk with your veterinarian for more tailored advice. Bleach does not make a good cat repellent. Tomcats dont like it when their females have kittens from other cats. As male cats do not take part in raising their offspring, kitten calls and the urgency conveyed in them may not have the same relevance for them as for female cats. Cats also have a superb sense of smell, which is one of their best traits. It can be hard to determine the best age to neuter a Persian cat, but the consensus is that a Persian cat is best neutered between the ages of four and six months. Amazon Affiliate Disclaimer: CatWiki.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and other Amazon Locales. The average age of heats in cats, however, is 6 months for female cats (which can oscillate) or 9 months in male cats. A queen can birth five litters a year and continue reproducing throughout her lifespan unless spayed. 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