My cat had kittens in 2024 and was a great mom for months. But recently, she started hissing at them whenever she interacts with them. She goes out of her way to hiss and even swipes at them. I’ve seen her hide and ambush them too. She doesn’t seem to be playing; her growling and body language suggest otherwise. The weird thing is she only behaves this way with the kittens, and when she eats, she’s totally fine. We thought it would stop after getting her and the kittens fixed, but it’s been going on for months. We have another fixed male cat, and she gets along fine with him. He’s way nicer to the kittens than she is. Oddly, even our dog, who dislikes cats, is kinder to the kittens than their mother is. She also keeps her distance from the dog. The kittens still seem friendly towards her, but they’re also scared. They’re about 7 months old now, and this behavior has lasted for about 4 months. What can I do to calm her aggression? I don’t think pain or stress are the issue since she’s not showing any other signs of them.
Has anything changed recently in your cat’s environment? Sometimes, when cats feel like they need to assert dominance or control, they act out like that. It might also be related to her being protective over her space. Do you give her a safe, quiet spot where she can have some alone time? That might help her feel more secure.
I’m wondering if the mother cat sees the kittens as threats now that they’re older and more independent. She could be trying to assert dominance because she no longer feels like their caretaker. Maybe try some behavior training, like rewarding her for calm interactions with the kittens. It might take time, but consistency can help.
@Dani
That makes sense! I’ll try rewarding her when she behaves calmly around them. Hopefully, that works!
Sounds like she might be stressed or feeling territorial. Have you considered separating her from the kittens for a little while to give her space? You could try reintroducing them gradually, allowing her to get used to them again at her own pace.
I agree with separating them for a while and seeing if that helps. It could give her a break and maybe reduce some of the aggression. Also, I’d suggest trying to engage her in more playtime with you to help her relax.
It’s possible that the mother cat is just feeling overwhelmed as the kittens grow older and more independent. Have you tried offering her some extra attention and reassurance? Maybe she needs to feel secure again in her role as the matriarch.
Sometimes aggression can stem from anxiety, even if the cat doesn’t show other signs of stress. You could try calming products like Feliway diffusers or calming treats to see if they make a difference.
Has her behavior changed since she was first fixed? Sometimes cats can experience mood changes after being spayed or neutered. It could be that she’s just trying to redefine her boundaries with the kittens.