Will a newborn kitten die if I touch it alot?

[Animallover3]

Hello,

 I have always been told you can never pick up and newborn kitten to long. Is this true and why? My cat just had for kittens Sunday and I don't want to pick them up if I can't.

[Miss Zippy]

I don't know if it's true but I was told it's because your scent will transfer to the kitten and the mother will no longer recognise the kitten and let it feed. It is probably an old wives' tale but you might want to err on the side of caution.

[FP]

It will make the mother cat very stressed and will affect her behaviour with the kittens.   She might even abandon them if she gets stressed.   Just leave her quietly to do her own thing with the kittens for at least three weeks.  She also needs to be in a quiet area of your home, but not isolated.   She will then feel more confident for you to occasionally pick them up.  Resist the temptation, even though it is hard!

[2nosey]

i heard the mother will eat the kitten if you touch it i heard that rabbits are like this too.

just last year we had some stray cats living in our shed they had two kittens. my brother decided to pick one of them up he only held it for a few seconds and then put it down again. after that i only saw one kitten. i don't know if the mother had eaten it but i couldn't help thinking it might have happened.

anyway it's better to be safe then sorry so don't pick them up until at least 3 to 4 weeks like fake plastic said.

and don't worry we told the rspca about the cats living in our shed.  

[janey78]

I don't know if the mother will abandon kitties that have been held, but I suggest handling them as soon as the mother will let you because the more a cat is held and cuddled, the more friendly it will be later.  If you want a lap cat that is.

[PurplePixie]

I am not an expert, but have had many  litters thro my doors & so can truthfully claim to have had a little experience. I believe the question of handling new kittens depends mostly on how well you know the mother & if you have a good relationship with her.

I have had pregnant cats staying with me while they have their kits & I always handle the kittens from birth, but I always take the lead from the mum. I build up a trust with her before the birth... I never take the kittens out of her eyeline, I make sure I fuss her first & all the domestic cats I've dealt with (feral cats are a whole different thing) have seemed almost proud to show the kittens off to me!

Watch the mothers expression & go with that. I do think it's important that the kittens get used to humans & they will do that if the Mum is at ease with you & they will copy her as she comes to you for some fuss. Don't forget to wash your hands before you handle them in the early weeks, just to make sure. Good luck, it can be loads of fun.

[tiamaria02]

Im an expert! if your hands are clean go for it check them over and make sure they are alright, mom might get a lil worried but reassure her things are fine and pet momma...if the mommy cat knows u well she wont worry cuz she trusts u..exsessive handeling could make a kitten die..too much smothering is bad at a young age but nice pets and affection are great.

 

hope this helps

tia

 

[peachy_puss]

ummm....no thay whon't die but just wash ur hands be4 hand...my cat gave birth to 2 kittens about 2 week ago and i'v been handeling them practcally every day since and she doesn't mind at all she was happy us being there when she was giving birth but she is a very trusting cat...

[Cormack]

My cat Tia a ********* has just had 3 kittens on Monday and I have been handling them.  I feel that is you have a  good relationship with the mother then she will not have a problem.  I will say though don't take them away as she will come looking and give them a good going over when you put them back.  By the way they are absolutely georgous 2 pure black and one ginger.

[kittyluva101]

Well, my cat just had kittens wednesday. She has 2 but she one died. Then today she had 2 more. We think that she isnt done yet. But I can touch and pick up the oldest one...it is about 4 days old. I can pick it up, but first you have to rubb on the mommy kitty because that will pick up her scent. Then she will still reconize the kitten scent. So, just make sure that the kitten or kittens are about 4 or 5 days ol...and always remember to pet the mommy cat first so you can get her scent.