Download Article
Download Article
Generally, a mother cat will seek out a safe place to birth her kittens. When she chooses a place, she generally has a set of particular things she is looking for quiet, dark, dry, warm, and safe from predators, male cats, or nosy humans. Occasionally, cats don’t make the wisest of decisions due to naiveté, changing circumstances, or just a bad choice. If this is the case, you may find yourself having to make the decision to move the kittens to a better spot to keep them safe. [1] X Research source
Steps
-
Pick a new spot for the mother and kittens. Ask yourself some questions prior to the move. Can you close the new area off to keep the mother from moving the kittens? Will the area be able to hold a litter box for the mother so she can relieve herself? Is there a safe spot (well away from the litter box) to place her water and food bowls? [2] X Trustworthy Source Animal Humane Society Leading animal welfare nonprofit organization providing medical care, training education, and resources for animal owners Go to source
- The chosen area also needs to be quiet. This means away from the general hubbub of the house, out of reasonable earshot of televisions, phones, and radios.
- It needs to be out of drafts and if the weather is chilly or the air conditioner is on it needs to be at a reasonable temperature: between 75-80 degrees is ideal. Closets in guest or seldom-used bedrooms work well, as does a quiet corner of a laundry or mud room. Basements, as long as they are dry and warm, are also a good choice to relocate a kitten nest.
-
Make a new nest once your spot is chosen. A sturdy cardboard box as long and wide as the mother cat makes a great nest. Laundry baskets can also make a good nest provided the openings are less than an inch wide. If they are any bigger the kittens can potentially slip through putting them in danger of injury or chilling. [3] X Trustworthy Source Animal Humane Society Leading animal welfare nonprofit organization providing medical care, training education, and resources for animal owners Go to sourceAdvertisement
-
Line the container with a clean, thick towel, blanket, or discarded clothing. Place it in the quiet spot, then set up the cat’s litter box, food and water bowls. You want to make the spot inviting for the mother cat just as much as you want to make the nest safe and warm for the kittens. [4] X Research source
Advertisement
-
Have the mother come out of her current spot by enticing her with some tasty treats. Small bits of cooked chicken or a tablespoon of canned tuna might work. You want to lure her out of the nest but you also don't want to take her completely away. It's important for her to see what you are doing but from a small distance. [5] X Research source
-
Pick the kittens up out of their old nest, making sure to securely handle them to prevent them from falling to the floor. Kittens cry when being handled to attract the mother’s attention. Don’t let their mews discourage you from moving them to a safe spot. [6] X Research source
-
Have the mother follow you into the new spot. Let her watch as you set the kitten down. She should be allowed to follow the kittens into the new nest.
- Some mother cats resent having their kittens touched and may be aggressive. Wear long sleeves, pants, and thick gloves if you suspect the mother might try to protect her kittens when you move them. [7] X Research source
-
Keep newborn kittens and the mother in place. Once all the kittens and their mother are in the new nest, close the door to the area. Check them infrequently throughout the day to let the family adjust to their new surroundings. [8] X Research source
- The mother cat will probably not like the new spot and may try to move and hide the kittens again. Keeping this in mind, choose a spot where you can keep the mother from doing so by closing a door.
- Feeding the mother tasty treats once or twice a day for a few days may make her more accepting of the new spot.
-
Leave the family alone for a few days to allow them to adjust. Keep the area closed off. The mom cat may be itching to move her kittens at the first opportunity putting her family back at risk. The mother may be upset at first but she should calm down gradually. Make sure she and the kittens have everything they need and that the mother is taking good care of the kittens. [9] X Research source
Advertisement
Expert Q&A
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Video
Tips
- If you need to move the kittens any long distance, put them into a cat carrier along with the mother to keep them from getting separated.Thanks
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement
References
- ↑ https://www.alleycat.org/community-cat-care/kitten-and-mom-scenarios/
- ↑ https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/resource/caring-young-kittens-and-their-moms
- ↑ https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/resource/caring-young-kittens-and-their-moms
- ↑ https://www.cats.org.uk/help-and-advice/pregnancy-and-kitten-care/care-of-newborn-kittens
- ↑ https://www.cats.org.uk/help-and-advice/pregnancy-and-kitten-care/care-of-newborn-kittens
- ↑ https://assets.cambridge.org/97811070/25028/frontmatter/9781107025028_frontmatter.pdf
- ↑ https://assets.cambridge.org/97811070/25028/frontmatter/9781107025028_frontmatter.pdf
- ↑ https://assets.cambridge.org/97811070/25028/frontmatter/9781107025028_frontmatter.pdf
- ↑ https://www.alleycat.org/community-cat-care/kitten-and-mom-scenarios/
About This Article
Article Summary
X
Before you move newborn kittens, make sure you have a quiet, warm, safe place to move them to, like the closet of a guest bedroom or in the corner of your laundry room. Once you've chosen a spot, set up a new nest for the mother and kittens by lining a container with a clean, thick towel or blanket. When you're ready to move the kittens, distract the mother with some treats and then carefully pick the kittens up out of their old nest. Let the mother follow you as you move the kittens so she knows where you're taking them. To learn how to deal with an aggressive mother cat, scroll down!
Did this summary help you?
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 252,988 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "I've been trying all day to move my cat's kittens into a box. Each time she would move a couple back and leave the others. After reading this article, it only took about two minutes to get her to stay in the box! Thank you!" ..." more
Advertisement
94%
of readers found this article helpful
.
Click a star to add your vote
% of people told us that this article helped them.
"I've been trying all day to move my cat's kittens into a box. Each time she would move a couple back and leave the others. After reading this article, it only took about two minutes to get her to stay in the box! Thank you!"
..."
more
"Back in Feb./18 I let in two sister kittens about 10 months old I had been feeding them since they were born outside. When I let them in one was sick after about 1 week she looked like her belly swelled over night. Well, that was not the case she was pregnant and I helped her deliver 5 babies 2 of them breech and stuck in her bottom which I had to pull them each from her.The babies and momma are doing beautifully all is very well. They are just precious little babies! Thanks! I love them all!!!!!"
..."
more
"We have seven two-week-old kittens under our bed close to the edge that are crawling out. Afraid of stepping on them in the night, I've setup a large kennel as a new home. We put up a low gate to keep them contained as they start adventuring out. Helpful info."
..."
more
"The part about putting them in a carrier and not separating them helped. My cat had her litter recently, and we are moving soon. I needed to know how to move them without her neglecting them. Thanks wikiHow. "
..."
more
"This helped as our cat had kittens in our playroom. This was not the best place as the kids are in and out of there regularly. We moved them to a new room in the house."
..."
more
