Because of their small size, male cats may mistake them for their small prey, injuring or killing them. The answer to this question depends on a few factors, but in general, kittens are safe from tomcats around the age of four months. Heres What to Do Next, Why cant I get rid of my dogs fleas? After 12 weeks, they are pretty much safe from tomcats. , Best Spray: PetSafe SSSCAT Spray Pet Deterrent at Chewy. Are male cats aggressive towards kittens? And given the average 63-65 day gestational period of . Please enable JavaScript in your browser to submit the form. A Step-by-Step Guide, Can I put febreeze on my dog? Yes Toms will kill kittens because the grief in the momcats throw the females back into heat quickly and the toms can mate again. When spring weather returns, menacing tomcats start yowling, and your queen begins pawing at the door, youll hear the message loud and clear: its breeding season! But at what age are kittens safe from tomcats? Unlocking The Mystery, Why Is My Black Cat Turning Brown? Fortunately, the domestic cat is adaptable enough that happy families usually prevail. This website is where she gets to share her knowledge and interact with other cat lovers. Take a look at our reviews of Cat Calming Sprays and Dewormers For Cats for more options. . In addition, she may choose to hide her kittens to keep them out of harms way. Although a mother cat will do her best to protect her kittens, she may not be successful in defending them against predators. Although cat fertility decreases with age, it is not uncommon for an older cat of 10 years to give birth. Male cats tend to grow into a loving and well-adapted household member. If you have an outdoor cat, make sure the tomcat does not have access to your yard. You might think that keeping your kitten safe from tomcats is as simple as keeping them apart, but thats not necessarily the case. Many dog breeds emerged for specific purposes, like hunting or retrieving prey. When Do Female Cats Stop Going Into Heat? Dont spray bleach around areas where animals and wildlife scratch, eat, drink or sleep. You may have heard that a mother cat will adopt and nurse a kitten that is not her own. Training should focus on teaching the kitten how to recognize and respond appropriately to warning signs such as hissing or growling from the tomcat. In the past, cats were normally neutered at 6 8 months old. Thats eight or so months before reaching adulthood and full-size. Copyright 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. At this point, they are considered adults and can fend for themselves against tomcats. Why would a cat steal other cats kittens? Unspayed queens will continue to experience heat cycles annually as the breeding season comes and goes, even if they never mate with male tomcats or leave home. 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. To ensure the safety of your kittens, it is best to keep them away from tomcats and other potential dangers. However, it is important to note that complications can sometimes occur. Unfortunately, there's no way to prevent it. A queen can birth five litters a year and continue reproducing throughout her lifespan unless spayed. With time and patience, they will eventually work it out and become the best of friends! 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. Nice. They are now starting to be gradually independent. So, it is clear that mother cats are incredibly protective of their young and will go above and beyond to keep them safe from potential danger. Many people are surprised to learn that kittens and tomcats can peacefully coexist in the same home. Simba, Snowball and Oreo: My 3 musKITTYeers! Is it safe to spay a lactating (nursing) cat? how long does it take for a cat to give birth. A roaming tomcat is not always certain if kittens belong to them especially in an area where they are competing over females. This is also known as 'fixing', 'neutering' or 'being done'. Male cats have been known to kill kittens, usually kittens that they didn't father. When You Breathe In Your Diaphragm Does What? However few toms would take up the responsibility of mothering kittens and the duties that come with it. Required fields are marked *. Additionally, the personality of the tomcat should be taken into consideration, as some may be more aggressive than others. This will allow your Persian to live a longer and . How to Keep Your Kitten Safe From Tomcats. Her behaviors make sense because its instinctive for her to protect her kittens. It is also important to keep an eye on their interactions, so that you can intervene if necessary. Therefore, the best way to know whether your cat is sexually mature is to look for signs of heat. It doesnt change the reality that neutered male cats can still be violent when it comes to territorial issues. Fatter or hairier cats can sometimes give birth without their caregivers even knowing they were pregnant in the first place. There are a few things you can do to help your kitten stay safe from tomcats. Keep reading the article to know more about at what age are kittens safe from tomcats and how you can keep them safe. First, keep them indoors until they are at least four months old. Rough play is normal in kittens and cats up to about 2 years old, and that includes biting each other under the neck. The behavior of male cats to kittens sired by others varies. If you have other cats, keep them separated from the tomcat until youre sure everyone gets along. Neutering is an important step in ensuring that kittens are safe from tomcats. They, unlike their moms, lack paternal impulse. If a tom cat or other predator comes too close, a mother cat may fight it off with her claws and teeth. Anesthesia is safe for these kittens, but the younger the kitten is, the more vigilant the surgical staff will need to be to monitor the kitten and ensure his . Cats are picky about their surfaces, particularly those with broken rocks, river rocks, or pinecones as borders irritate them. When a female goes into heat -- also called estrus -- it basically means she is ready to mate with tomcats. The males are only welcome when one of the females is available for mating or is on heat. If you are worried that your cat is old enough to have kittens -- especially if she goes outdoors a lot -- spare yourself the grief and get her spayed immediately. 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 and tomcats can be friends, but its important to keep a few things in mind. Let them sniff each other out first, and if everything seems okay, let them explore their new surroundings together. First of all, it is important to introduce the two gradually. Find out in this blog post! Kittens are at their most vulnerable during the first few weeks of life. Tom cats are known to be territorial, and they will defend their territory against other cats, including kittens. Sometimes a mother cat may have another female (usually her mother or daughter) who she totally trusts with newborn or very young kittens. What My Dog Should Eat After Giving Birth. Most the household has domestic cats living with them. However, know that they have the tendency to slaughter kittens that are not their offspring. This could be a cat tree, a box, or even just a high shelf that they can climb up to. If a tomcats sperm fertilizes the egg, the queens heat cycle will end within 24-48 hours. For example, Oriental Shorthairs, Siamese, and feral (wild outdoor) cats notoriously reach maturity around four-months-old. However, if the kittens are younger than six months, or if the tomcat is not neutered, then its best to keep them separate. In felines, particularly speaking, the mama cat gets fiercely protective of her litter of kittens to keep them safe from other cats, especially the male ones. Thats because shes pregnant. Not only cats but other sociable animals are involved in this scenario. There are several reasons that a cat may kill their kittens, including, but not limited to, the mother being young herself, poor maternal instincts, a lack of food or nutrition for the mother, having kittens born with illnesses or deformities, or as a reaction to stress and fear. They are also starting to test their boundaries. Read Also, Best Automatic Cat Feeder (Top 10) 10 Best Automatic Cat Water Fountain Reviews Cat not Eating or Drinking for 3 days Here are the 7 Reasons Third, supervise your pet when they are outdoors and keep them indoors at night when wild cats are most active. The father cat may then believe that the kittens are the property of another cat. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Fading kitten syndrome affects kittens in the first four to six weeks of lifethe time between birth and being weaned from their mother. Typically, the most theyll do is father as many litters as possible, then leave everything to the mother cat. Your Kittens are safe from the above situations once they gain weight up to 2 pounds or when a kitten is 8 to 12 weeks after the birth. 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. It's important to act swiftly to discourage that behavior. When they mark any territory as theirs, they make sure that neither a rival tomcat nor its genes, will be allowed to stay in the territory. A tomcat is not one specific cat breedin fact, every cat breed can have tomcats. Quick Tips: Put out fragrances that keep cats away. Toms like most other animals of prey have strong hunting instincts and once activated are hard to be switched off. Tomcats are hesitant to own offspring from a female since they are frequently in competition with other male cats. But I have known some Toms that will kill more violently than that. You will go through at What age are kittens safe from tomcats and Why do cats eat their kittens after birth? When a cat is about to give birth, you will be able to feel the kittens moving when touching your cats abdomen. However, consult your veterinarian first before intentionally allowing your queen to become pregnant. Additionally, ensure windows and doors are tightly closed, install motion-activated lights or sprinklers around your home, supervise pets when outdoors, and dont leave food out for feral cats. Spraying is one of the most annoying things your male cat can do, though females can spray too. However, not all feral cats are aggressive. Community cats who are currently nursing should be released back to their environment only when they are alert and moving around normally. Kittens are safe from tomcats at about four to eight weeks of age. This ensures that the females also come on heat much faster and he can ensure mating with them again so the kittens henceforth are his. Provide a secure environment and avoid contact with other cats. Kittens and tomcats can start becoming friends as early as two months of age, but its best to wait until the kitten is at least four months old. To manufacture spray repellents, use some common household materials. However, the only hormone that is being lowered is their sexual hormone. Schedule an ovariohysterectomy before Fluffy returns home already-pregnant. Tomcats behave very much like lions. Therefore, it is not only important to avoid unwanted pregnancies, but to choose the best contraceptive method for your cat, adapted to its individual health status. Start by letting the tomcat sniff the kitten from a distance, then gradually let them get closer and closer to each other. Cats rely on their sense of smell to get through. Unneutered adult male cats are usually larger and heavier than females and take about three, rather than two years to reach their full weight. Speak with her veterinarian about her age, weight and height. Maternal aggression occurs when a queen (female cat) becomes particularly violent. During this time, they are not yet able to defend themselves from predators. Can cats eat Rice, Tuna, Bread, Eggs, Ham, and Cheese. Most kittens can be spayed as early as six to eight weeks old. Territory: Cats are territorial animals and they will often fight to defend what they believe is their territory. But its only a matter of time before that pint-sized kitten discovers her independence and sets off on her first solo voyage. ASPCA Professional: Pediatric Spay/Neuter. Meanwhile, Persian cats may delay fertility until closer to 10-12 months. Answer (1 of 7): This happened in my house several years ago. Many people are concerned about letting their kittens outside for fear of them being attacked by tomcats. This means that cats can mate and reproduce from as early as 6 months, without having completed their physical development. Heres What to Expect, What is the best dog for working cattle? Mother cats are fiercely devoted to their kittens and will go to great lengths to keep them safe. All the scientific information that is available to us shows that it is not only safe to spay or neuter a kitten that young, but better. These hormones may invite sexual advances from tomcats but she is not ready to mate. As a result, keeping the tomcats out is a good idea. Pam is a self-confessed cat lover and has experience of working with cats and owning cats for as long as she can remember. They produce viable sperm from around 8 to 12 months of age. Other short-term solutions include scattering orange and lemon peels or spraying with citrus-scented fragrances, spreading coffee grounds, pipe tobacco, oil of lavender, citronella or eucalyptus. Unless you watch Fluffy like a hawk and keep her strictly indoors, it could take weeks to realize shes expecting. Common Questions Can a Litter Contain Kittens From Multiple Sires? Congratulations! With these ideas in mind, here are the steps to resolveor, better yetavoid aggression between cats: Adult cats will usually accept a new kitten much more easily than they will accept a new adult cat. They can be certain that those litters are theirs. Male cats, on the other hand, have been known to completely ignore kittens. Taking these precautions will keep both kittens and pets safe and sound in their environment. So, they will kill other tom cats' kittens in order to keep them away. This is known as infanticide, and it is a tool used to ensure the survival of species. Getting cold is a big danger to newborn kittens. If youre concerned about your puppy being too energetic, talk with your veterinarian for more tailored advice. Are you worried about your kittens safety when a tomcat is around? Additionally, these such measure should be prolonged, covering the time up to which a cat is fertile. Take coffee grounds and scatter them in areas where tomcats are known to congregate. Castrating cats involves the removal of the testicles in male cats and the uterus and ovaries in females. From the moment a cat is in heat, cat gestation lasts approximately 2 months. Tips and Tricks, What are the symptoms of overheating in dogs? Typically, the most they'll do is However, not all male cats will protect kittens. If these two criteria are met, then the kitten is safe for early neutering. To ensure the well-being of your kittens, you should take extra precautions by keeping your cats indoors or providing them with a safe outdoor area. But usually, no other cats should be allowed near the babies. Male cats can tell which kittens are his based on their scent. When they reach this stage, they are a bit bigger and less vulnerable . Its essential to keep kittens safe from tomcats. They reach full size and sexual maturity by six months of age. This happens to many other social animals too, few of the males will use their energy to raise the offspring of another male that is their rival. If youre Introducing a kitten to a tomcat for the first time, its important to do so gradually. Because tomcats can impregnate multiple females at one time, owners should take extra precautions when leaving un. Why is my cat stealing my other cats kittens? You never know how he'll react. That fuzzy, miniature, four-legged bundle of joy will discover her independence well before the six-month mark.