queen behavoiur

Question
I am slightly worried about my new queens behaviour towards her  four day old kitten, on the whole she is a great mum and is doing all she is meant to.  However she keeps walking off and leaving her kitten alone for prolonged periods but returns when it calls out for her, and is distracted from her kitten's side at the slightest thing.  I know as the kitten gets older she is meant to take more time out for herself but at only 4 days this seems a bit to soon for this behaviour to start.  What is going on? and what can I do to show her she is meant to stay with her kitten more than she does right now?

Answer
Sarah,

How old is the mom?

As long as the kitten is warm and getting fed, I would not worry.  We confine our queens to one room and provide a sturdy birthing box.  They tend to stay closer to the kitten that way.

As long as she is around when the kitten cries and the kitten is in a warm draft free place, the kitten will be OK.  I agree, this is not the behavior one would expect, but, like people, some cats are better moms than others.  It may be she is bored with only one kitten and would like to do other things.  Although, not normal this quickly after birth, it is possible she is having a mild lactation heat!?!?

I assume you can tell that the kitten is fat and sassy and gaining weight.

Best regards... Norm.