It is also important to keep an eye on their interactions, so that you can intervene if necessary. 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. 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. The majority of domesticated male cats appearto be friendly. Heres What to Expect, What is the best dog for working cattle? And given the average 63-65 day gestational period of . This means that they will mark their territory with urine, which can be a problem for indoor cats. Do you still have any queries related to cats or want to share some experience with your feline friend, why don't you join us on Facebook with other cat lovers? The male cat can use this to get the female cat into heat so he can reproduce. Fortunately, the domestic cat is adaptable enough that happy families usually prevail. Causes and Solutions. Male cats have been known to kill kittens, usually kittens that they didnt father. Neutered cats are less likely to fight with tomcats, reducing the risk of injury or death. Therefore, it is important to provide your kitten with a safe place to hide if they feel scared or threatened. Rushed Weaning: Kittens shouldn't be weaned suddenly. Second, tomcats are usually not neutered. Not only cats but other sociable animals are involved in this scenario. If you have any concerns, its always best to consult with a veterinarian or animal behaviourist. However, if the kittens are younger than six months, or if the tomcat is not neutered, then its best to keep them separate. Some cats hit puberty as young as 4 months, while it can take over a year for others. By this time, most kittens will have been spayed or neutered, which will help to reduce the risk of aggression. When the play goes overboard, they can get highly aroused and become violent. Heres the Answer. If your cat is male, the same thing applies. Taking these precautions will keep both kittens and pets safe and sound in their environment. If your kittens are frequently stolen at night by tomcats, you may want to paint the area with black mouse traps. Start by letting them sniff each other through a barrier, such as a baby gate, and then progress to letting them spend short periods of time together in a supervised setting. Citrus is not a cats favorite scent. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Kittens can be kept safe from tom cats by keeping them away from the tomcats territory or having their mother cat present to protect them. This is true whether the kitten is their own or was sired by another cat. Cats are territorial, and your cat may resent an adult feline intruder. This is completely FREE for you. If another male cat leaves his smell on a father cats territory, for example, he may become confused. So, in summary, whether or not its safe to have kittens and tomcats living together depends on the age of the kittens and the temperament of the tomcat. Queens are dominated by feline protective aggressiveness for the first three to four weeks after the kittens are born. Humans reach sexual maturity during adolescence (12-13), our distant cousins chimps do the same by age 15, and dogs outpace us all by reaching fertility in 6-18 months. Depending on the breed, size and lifestyle that has led, a cat can be fertile until 10-12 years. How do you keep tom cats away from kittens? Pam is a self-confessed cat lover and has experience of working with cats and owning cats for as long as she can remember. A young cat is classified as being a "kitten" from birth up until roughly 1 year in age. Unneutered adult male cats are usually larger and heavier than females and take about three, rather than two years to reach their full weight. Let's examine the six main reasons for aggressive behaviour occurrence towards humans including successful management and prevention techniques: 1. Even tomcats that are not aggressive can see kittens as prey because of their size and movement. The average female cat will hit this milestone before shes ten-months-old and nearly full-grown. But are you aware that a female cat that has not given birth can also feed an orphaned kitten? To this end, senior cats should still enjoy catnip. The main purpose of this is to prevent non-his kittens from inheriting his bloodline. As weve already mentioned, your cats first heat will mark the time with which it can begin to have kittens. The best you can do is to track how often kittens are eating, how much weight they're gaining, and how often they pee and poop every day. The main factor which influences cat heat is sunlight. This information is not a substitute for a vets opinion. At What Age Are Kittens Safe From Tomcats. 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. Kittens must be socialized to be comfortable around other cats, including tomcats. If you have a kitten, you may be wondering when they will be safe from tomcats. Scientifically dubbed the ovariohysterectomy, the spaying surgery in female cats removes both the uterus (the womb) and the ovaries (the egg storage unit). Most kitten attacks usually happen at a time when the female is away from the nest as it has been seen commonly that any nesting female drives away any males that may try to attack. Its a legitimate concern, as cats can be territorial and aggressive toward each other. If a tomcat gets the scent of a rival tomcat he may decide the kittens belong to the visiting tomcat. Second, install motion-activated sprinklers or lights around the perimeter of your home. Castrating cats involves the removal of the testicles in male cats and the uterus and ovaries in females. Her rejection of the tomcat could cause it to be frustrated and attempt to mount her by force and the energy may break the neck of the kitten. This could be a result of a lack of other tomcats around resulting in them being less reactive. This is normal developmental behavior for puppies in this juvenile phase. Kittens look so cute when theyre cuddled up together, but they can appear fierce during playtime. Yes, a tomcat can kill kittens as they are extremely territorial. Many people are concerned about letting their kittens outside for fear of them being attacked by tomcats. Bleach does not make a good cat repellent. Many cat owners, however, claim that their male cats show paternal instincts toward kittens, regardless of whether or not they are their offspring. Keeping your pet safe from wild or feral cats is important. 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. Use it every several days to keep its aroma more potent, which will keep tomcats away. 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. However, all cats sexually mature at slightly different ages, like how people hit puberty at slightly different times. Male cats tend to grow into a loving and well-adapted household member. In most cases, they will feel very stressed out if this is not provided. This means that they may inadvertently hurt a kitten while playing. Keep in mind that each cat is unique. The Humane Society of the United States: Pets by the numbers, Alley Cat Allies: Newborn Kitten Progression & Cat Age Chart with Pictures, Mayo Clinic: Menopause Symptoms and causes, Banfield: News Room News, information, and updates from Banfield Pet Hospital. Cats have a great sense of scent that helps them to determine any intruders in their territory. How Many Puppies can a Bull Terrier Have? As a result, theres a chance theyll hurt kittens. This will help reduce their chances of getting into fights with tomcats over territory or mates. Most queens become fertile by 7-9 months. If a tomcat is ready to mate and father a litter, he will begin spraying behaviors. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'21cats_org-leader-3','ezslot_17',104,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-21cats_org-leader-3-0');Training is essential for kittens to learn how to interact safely with other cats, including tomcats. Since then he has decided to write helpful articles that will help you become a better backyard farmer and know what to do. Tomcats notoriously prey on female cats, but at what age can cats have kittens? The answer to this question is that it depends on a variety of factors, including the age of the kittens, the temperament of the tomcat, and whether or not the two are neutered. Again, we must be aware of the effects that continued pregnancies can produce in cats. If you have any questions, ask us in the comments section. Make sure to just spray or apply this to the surfaces and not the cat. This is one of the most commonly recommended ways. Most likely not, since in feral colonies cats will breed repeatedly and can end up with a litter from more than one father. Fear Aggression. Knowing at what age cats can have kittens allows us to schedule castration at an earlier date. Also, perfumed oils can be effective, albeit they can have a strong odor. In order to know at what age can cats have kittens, we need to analyze a cats heat period. This is known as infanticide, and it is a tool used to ensure the survival of species. Score: 4.6/5 (17 votes) . Most kittens can be spayed as early as six to eight weeks old. To learn about what age cats can have kittens, read on. For more about cat neutering, we recommend reading: If you want to read similar articles to At What Age Can Cats Have Kittens?, we recommend you visit our Gestation category. Spay or neuter your pet to minimize the risk of injury or death to unprotected kittens in your area. 3. Low rated: 3. If you are thinking about getting a puppy but are nervous about all that pent-up puppy energy, spend an afternoon at a dog park. In the Western Hemisphere, the feline breeding season slowly arrives as the weather becomes warmer and the days get longer, with the mating season running from March to December. Kittens are at their most vulnerable during the first few weeks of life. Domestic male cats as well as male cats in the wild aren't known for their fathering skills. Mother cats often use this area to carry their new kittens. 2. This is how puppies start to identify where they fit in with a group. 1) Smells. Physical shape. It's important to act swiftly to discourage that behavior. How to Keep Your Kitten Safe From Tomcats. These cats created their own area and wanted to be in charge of it. During this rapid growth period, Fluffy will hit milestones nearly every week: Not long after shedding those first deciduous teeth, that bubbly four to six-month-old kitten will likely reach feline puberty (or sexual maturity), marked by her first-ever estrous (heat) cycle. Neutering is the best option, but there are other things you can do to prevent spraying as well. Unless you watch Fluffy like a hawk and keep her strictly indoors, it could take weeks to realize shes expecting. What to Know, How do you get a dog in Michigan? Cats usually exhibit neck biting behaviors especially when the mothers are lifting the kitten to move them from one place to another. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hello everyone and welcome to the blog. A tomcat may attack if it feels threatened or if it is trying to protect its territory. 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. Best Overall: Pet MasterMind Cat Spray at Chewy. If you want to ensure your pet's safety, keep them indoors. Your dog has graduated from puppyhood. Cats are seasonal polyestrous, which means that, in the months with the highest incidence of sunlight, they can experience heat almost permanently. The best age to neuter a cat is when he is around five months old. Scatter fresh orange or lemon peels. Advantages of Early Neutering or Spaying in Kittens They, unlike their moms, lack paternal impulse. 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