new mum

Question
my cat who is only a kitten herself has just had a kittens, I know she should stay with them to keep them warm, she is looking after them really well but she does like to leave them now and then and go for a wonder, how long is it ok for her to stay away from them, i am not talking hours here or anything, I just wonder how long it would be before the kittens would start to get cold and that.
thanks.

Answer
Roseann,

The kittens sleep in a pile to keep each other warm. They do this because before cats were domesticated their mother had to be away to hunt for food. If your cat is just leaving for a bit to eat, drink, use the litter and wander around a bit I don't see a problem. If the kittens are very vocal and squirmy all of the time then they may not be getting enough food from their mother. In your average room that is heated to room temperature as long as there is more than 1 kitten they can keep themselves warm until mom comes back. Given the serious euthanasia rates for mixed breed kittens and the overpopulation in the shelters where many of these cats end up you really should keep mama inside the house until she weans the kittens and have her spayed so that she doesn't keep contributing to overpopulation. Hopefully this answers your question and concerns. If you have any further questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me again.