This Brave House Cat Scales a Giant Tree to Rescue Her Trapped Kitten

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It’s incredible just how many different animals share a powerful maternal instinct. Even cats, who are often seen as aloof and distant, demonstrate remarkable devotion and affection to their young. This is beautifully demonstrated in this YouTube video as a tiny mother cat bravely scales an enormous tree to rescue her young kitten!

Today’s Modern Housecat

Today’s pet cats originally came from regions such as the Middle East, Europe, and Egypt. In ancient times, people began welcoming cats into their homes as pets, companions, and pest controllers. Later, in the late 1800s, people began selectively breeding cats. This led to the many different types of cats we see now. Today, the International Cat Association (TICA officially recognizes 73 cat breeds). Some breeds, like the Egyptian Mau and Turkish Angora, have existed for hundreds of years. Others, like the American Curl and Ragamuffin, were developed only a few decades ago. Today, house cats come in a variety of colors, sizes, and patterns, typically weighing between 6 and 20 pounds.

Maternal Instinct in Cats

Like many mammals, mother cats typically have a strong instinct to care for their young. Even while pregnant, they often become more loving and affectionate with their human owners as they prepare for motherhood. Cats are pregnant for 63 to 67 days. Once a cat goes into labor, kittens are typically born every 10 to 60 minutes. It is a very stressful process for mother cats and can last anywhere from four to 16 hours or more. Despite her exhaustion, the mother cat will carefully lick and clean each of her newborn kittens and make sure they can nurse.

When kittens are born, they completely depend on their mothers to survive. Newborn kittens can’t see or hear well and are unable to move around much on their own. Their mother feeds and protects them, providing nutrient-rich milk and warmth. During the first few weeks, kittens mostly sleep and drink milk, although they can recognize their mother’s distinct “chirping” sounds. Their mother’s milk is extremely important because it’s packed with antibodies and nutrients the kittens need to grow strong and healthy.

Unfortunately, there are times when a mother cat does not care for her kittens. This could happen if she’s very young and not ready to be a mom. It can also happen if a kitten is born with a defect or if the mother cat is sick or stressed.

If kittens are rescued without their mother, they are often placed with an adoptive mother so they can receive milk and learn essential life skills. A mother cat’s care is crucial for her kittens to have the best start in life. Kittens raised solely by humans, without the presence of a mother cat, may become more aggressive, sensitive, and fearful.

Fierce Feline Moms

When kittens are five to six weeks old, the mother cat may start to wean them off milk and introduce them to eating solid food, although they often keep nursing until they’re 10 to 12 weeks old. The mother cat will continue teaching her kittens essential survival skills, such as how to clean themselves, hunt, and interact with other cats. She will continue to care for and protect them, as demonstrated in this YouTube video.

If kittens are separated from their mothers too early, they may struggle to learn how to play appropriately and groom themselves properly. Some have difficulty learning how to hunt or use a litter box. Kittens learn almost everything they need to know from their mother and siblings. Without this, cats often have trouble adjusting to a new home and family. Additionally, they may not know how to communicate well with other cats. The time kittens spend with their mothers helps them develop the resilience they need to survive on their own.

The post This Brave House Cat Scales a Giant Tree to Rescue Her Trapped Kitten appeared first on A-Z Animals.