New Born Kittens approx 12 hours old..

Question
Hi There,

My cat just had her kittens that are around 12 hours old. She has moved them underneat my couch. I have another cat which is still a kitten and she is about 6 months approx. I have her locked in my bedroom but she is going crazy in there. I want to move the kittes to my bedroom with the mother where it will be more quiet and where the 6 month old can have the living room back. I tried moving just one for the time and right away she picked it up and brought it back underneath the couch. The mother originally had the first 2 kittens on my bed and I moved her and she had the rest underneath the couch. If I bring the kittens in and the mother and just shut the door should the kittens be fine or will she hurt them? I dont want to do it just incase but she had them in a weird spot. She sits outside my bedroom door and only goes to the kittens when they cry. Ive searched high and low and havent found one in there so Im not sure on what to do. Also, she keeps following me around the house. Do you think something may be wrong with her>?

Answer
Nicole,

You can put mama and the kittens together in the bedroom, but first I would establish a suitable box for them. I like the cardboard "jumbo" storage chests that are approximately 10" X 16" X 26".  Put some old sheeting or toweling in the bottom and put it away from drafts and in a place (like your bedroom) where other pets cannot get to the mother and newborns.  At this stage, it is as important that the kittens get mother's warmth as well as her milk.

If mama begins to want to move the kittens, put her in a cage or carrier, where she can hear the kittens, but cannot get out to see them.  leave her in there for an hour or two and, usually, she will be so glad to get back to the kittens, she will forget about moving.  You may also cover the box part way with a towel to give the mother the feeling she is in another "den" (just as she was under the couch).

Please let me know how it goes.

Best regards... Norm.