Mama Cat Talks to Her Baby Kittens

Posted in Cat Videos - On: February 20, 2023 - Author:  Jan Travell
Posted in Cat Videos 
Last Updated: February 20, 2023  
Author:  Jan Travell

There’s no sweeter sound than when a mama cat talks to her kittens, when you can hear all that chirping and cooing in the most charming of voices.

This particular mama is called Miyu and you can see how dedicated and caring she is towards her litter.

She is doing all the things that come naturally to her as a cat mom and being able to see this is definitely an “awwww” moment.

We can see that Miyu’s mothering instincts paid off in this next video.

It follows one of her kittens, called Layo, growing up till he reached 5 months old.

Now that got me to thinking about what it is that a mother cat does to create that bond with her kittens and how that can ensure that they grow up fit, healthy and well adjusted.

First up, let’s look at that chirping and meowing at the kittens - what is that for?

Why Does a Mother Cat Vocalize to Her Kittens?

There’s a bunch of reasons why a mother cat vocalizes to her kittens

It’s clear that they are communicating and using different sounds to convey different messages. A low purr might be used to comfort while a high-pitched meow will call kittens for nursing or grooming.

All the sounds she makes are also good for bonding with her litter because her sounds reassure them that she is present and attentive to their needs. That presence (especially when the kittens are still blind) helps them feel safe and secure, which is essential for their growth and development.

mother-cat-and-her-little-kittens

Mother cats will also use vocalizations to teach their kittens important lessons, such as how to hunt, play, and interact with other cats. A cat mom might make a particular sound to signal to her kittens that they should hide or stay still to avoid detection by predators.

So as well as being used to teach the sounds also function as a warning.

Then again, whilst she’s teaching her kittens skills they need, some of them won’t quite get it…

Of course, there’s also the simple display of affection. When a cat mom chirrups she is often just letting her kittens know that she loves them. Awww.

kitten-cute-and-mother-cat

Other Ways a Mother Cat Communicates With Her Kittens

As well as all the sounds she can make, a cat mother is signalling her presence and care to her kittens in several other ways.

She will use grooming to help keep her kittens clean and healthy because they cannot do this for themselves as tiny babies.

grooming

And all that grooming helps the mother bond with her kittens. It also helps the kittens feel secure and have an overall positive emotional well-being as they are soothed and comforted.

But this isn’t the only type of touch she can use to let her kittens know what to do. She may guide them with a tender shove of her paw. 

Sometimes you’ll see a cat mom using her expression or body language to send a message to her litter.

An arched back instinctively tells her litter that she is protecting them from danger. And if she dilates her pupils or flattens her ears she can convey her emotions and they will read them.

Mother cat feeding her newborn cats

Scent is also a crucial way for the cat mom to identify her kittens. She will rub their faces and bodies to leave her scent on them and this helps them both recognize each other.

Scent is also a crucial way for the cat mom to identify her kittens. She will rub their faces and bodies to leave her scent on them and this helps them both recognize each other.

Bonding With Her Kittens

All of these types of communication that are happening between a cat mother and her kittens are doing several things at once.

They are simply helping the kittens get messages and information from their mother but they are also part of the nurturing and bonding that needs to happen so that the kittens will grow up well adjusted and healthy.

Grooming plays a very large part in this as does the mom nursing her babies.

mother and kitten

Her rich nutritious milk gives her kittens all the essential nutrients and antibodies they need to grow and develop properly. It is also one of the ways that her kittens get a sense of security and comfort.

And, finally, the teaching part of her chirrups is extremely important as she is passing on her skills.

She is showing her offspring what they need to know in hunting, socializing and also making sure that they grow up into cats that have proper emotional development.

In other words, cats that can interact with people and other cats without issues.

mother miyu

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About the author

Jan Travell is a lifelong cat owner and a feline expert. She's been the Cats and Kittens lead editor from the start. She lives in rural France with her two rescue cats, Tigerlily and Mr.Gee. Her senior kitty, Ducati, passed over the rainbow bridge recently at the ripe old age of 22.

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