Attacking Mother

[DavidMaria]

Hi all
New on here.

cat 1 = 17 yo female. not related
cat 2 = 18 months female, mother to
cat 3 = 11 weeks old female.

last week the mum (cat2) attacked her Kitten (cat3) for no reason whats so ever.
she has neurchered her from birth, taught her how to do everything, including climbing up the tree and how to get back down again, so a good mum.

i mean not a play fight, hair up claws out fight mode.

so we seperated them for couple of days then back together both getting on well. cleaning eating together etc.

today wham bam again claws out, and its real fighting.
Mrs managed to seperate them (hand is very scratched)

Cat2 then charges at Cat1 full blown anger.
now cat 1 and 2 have tollerated each other but when a kitten (cat 2) wants to play with a 17yo she hisses i dont want to play.

so can anybody suggest why?

we so frightened that we may need to keep cats seperated or get rid of one.
dont want to find one kills another.

any help much apreciated and if you need to ask anything, please ask.

David and Maria

[booktigger]

Mum cats can start pushing their young away, but the kitten is quite young for that, and it's normally mother/son that's the worst combination. I do wonder though, you said about her showing the kitten to climb the tree, does that mean they are going outside? And is mum neutered? It's rare, but kittens can sexually mature that young, and that can cause hierarchy issues.

[DavidMaria]

Hi sorry for delay in answering.

Mum is not neutered yet.
They do go outside, who cannot resist a kitten looking up at you with pleading eyes to go outside, who when you open door does a 10m dash and don't stop at the bottom of the tree. We have lift off!!!!
Mum then sits on fence top at bottom of tree and keeps an eye on her and when ready to come down tells her best way to come down.

We are keeping them apart when we are not at home or in bed but rest of the time they kiss cuddle wash offer milk play and the rest of mummy and kid things but still at a lost as to why she attacked her.

David and Maria

[booktigger]

Please be careful with mum and kitten being out unneutered, or they could both end up pregnant, and there are also risks to the kitten, as even if she's had both vaccinations, she won't have full protection by now (if first was at 8 weeks and second at 11), so while it might be hard to resist a kitten pleading with you, you don't want her to have lifelong health issues for the sake of keeping her in for a few months.