mamas mad

Question
We took in a stray female and her 2 kittens that we found in our shed.  That was over 9 months ago and they have been great house cats.  Before we could get Mama spayed, she escaped from the house just long enough to get pregnant again.  She had 3 kittens about 2 weeks ago. Everything was fine until a couple of days ago when the fighting began! The 2 older kittens are males and Mama just about killed one of them this morning for no reason. She will not let them in the same room as her.  Her new kittens are safely tucked away in a box on a shelf in a storage room.  One of the older male kittens was even cleaning them on several occasions already with no objection from Mama.
I have them seperated from each other for now, but she never misses an opportunity to attack them. Why the sudden and fierce aggression from Mama cat?  

Answer
HI Dee,

Mama cat is protecting her soon-to-be born kittens. Other adult cats have sometimes been known to kill small kittens and she is simply making sure that doesn't happen.  I have also known adult male and female cats who help take care of kittens by babysitting while the mama hunts! But your mama cat is not willing to take that chance - she's just being a good mom. Also she will want privacy and not to be harassed by the older kittens when she has new babies to take care of. Please keep the older kittens separated from her until the new kittens are at least 8 weeks old.

I hope the 2 older kittens are neutered now - this can be done as early as 3 months.

Also keep in mind that a female cat can be impregnated immediately after giving birth - and her own kittens may mate with her. Don't let that happen! Make sure they are neutered ASAP and get her spayed as soon as the kittens are stable - about 4 weeks old... hey can go with her to the vet since they will still be nursing.

Good luck and kudos to you for rescuing mama and all her babies!

PS for low cost spay and neuter you might want to check out one of these links:

http://www.spayusa.org

http://www.lovethatcat.com/spayneuter.html