Mama mia! Celebrating doting dog mums and caring cat mothers

Just as with human babies, animal mothers nurture and care for their offspring in those all-important first few weeks. Raising a litter of puppies or kittens is a demanding job – and dog and cat mums definitely deserve some recognition!

Both puppies and kittens are born with their eyes and ear canals closed (because they’re still developing) and so are completely reliant on their mother to care for them. These tiny furballs do, however, have a keen sense of smell, which helps them locate mum and find the all-important milk supply!

As well as feeding and grooming their litter and keeping them warm and safe, dog and cat mums also teach their youngsters important lessons and essential life skills to give them the very best start in life.  

Mother dogs and how they care for their puppies

“Canine mothers are the first source of love and protection for newborn puppies. For the first three weeks after the puppies are born, the mother dog gives them her undivided attention and care,” says The American Kennel Club. “What you’ll see on day one is a mother who doesn’t want to be away from her pups for more than a second,” adds Senior Veterinarian Dr Ann Hohenhaus.

• MUM’S THE WORD As puppies are born unable to see, hear or regulate their body temperature, they rely on their mum for all their needs and as a place to snuggle into for warmth. All their energy is devoted to sleeping and feeding so that they can gain weight and become strong and healthy.
• EVERYONE GETS THEIR TURN When puppies are very small, the mother dog will spend a lot of one-to-one time with each of her babies, grooming them, feeding them and taking care of them, giving each the best opportunity to thrive.
• EARLY LEARNING As soon as their eyes open (at around two weeks) and they begin to hear clearly and unsteadily find their paws (at around three weeks), puppies start playing and investigating with their brothers and sisters – and learn about competition for resources and attention. Mum will be busy keeping the peace!
• GROW, GROW, GROW! The first eight weeks of a new puppy’s life is jam-packed with many new experiences. Over these first few weeks, they will grow and develop at a faster rate than at any other time in their lives.
• TOUGH LOVE The mother dog is quite a strict parent and puts her puppies in their place when they get carried away, telling them off and moving them about if they are getting in the way or straying too far from her side. Because puppies learn so much during the time spent with their mother and their siblings, they should be at least eight weeks old before they’re ready to leave. They can then join their new human family as happy healthy pups, thanks to all the hard work put in by their doting mum.

Find out more with our puppy checklist, how dogs interpret the world through their five senses, training tips and expert nutrition advice >>

Mother cats and how they care for their kittens

“Most cats will take to mothering their kittens very naturally. You might notice your cat licking her newborn kittens, nuzzling them and purring,” says Cats Protection. “Kittens need to feed every two to three hours, so it’s likely your cat won’t want to leave them for the first week or so. They also rely on her for protection and warmth, so she’ll need to stay close to them.”

• DEDICATED Mother cats, known as ‘queens’ are dedicated to teaching their kittens everything about what it means to be a cat – from how to hunt without scaring off the prey, to always being cautious when faced with new situations.
• VALUABLE LESSONS Young kittens tend to approach everyone and everything boldly until their mother shows them otherwise. She gives them valuable life lessons – such as being wary around strangers or dogs and giving themselves space to run away if the other party poses a potential threat.
• A FELINE SKILLSET This is also the time when kittens develop important behaviours such as grooming, playing and socialising. Four-week-old kittens will be confidently exploring and developing better coordination that allows them to wander about and begin to play with their littermates. With their maturing senses, they’ll be more responsive, reacting to sights and sounds in the environment. Mum will still be grooming her litter, but her kittens will be learning to groom themselves.
• SIGNS OF INDEPENDENCE By the time they are six weeks old, kittens are extremely active. They will begin socialising confidently with their littermates, play-fighting, pouncing, and defending themselves. They will be increasingly curious about their surroundings and keen to explore – but mum will still keep a close eye on each of her offspring to ensure they don’t get up to too much mischief!
• HEALTH BENEFITS While eight weeks is the very earliest time that you can bring a kitten home, many feline experts, including the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy, recommend waiting until your kitten is 12 to 13 weeks old. This is to ensure they gain all the nutritional benefit from mum’s milk, which primes them with antibodies to protect them against a range of infections. Leaving home too early can impact on a cat’s behaviours and wellbeing for the rest of their life, so that extra time spent with their caring, attentive mum is well worth it.

Find out more about your kitten’s milestones, early learning for kittens, when does your kitten become a cat, and expert nutrition advice >>

HIGH QUALITY FOOD FOR A HAPPY HEALTHY LIFE 

WHAT SHOULD I FEED MY CAT? With so many brands and varieties of cat food on offer, what should look for when it comes to choosing the best cat food for your cherished cat companion? What are the important things to know about cat nutrition? And what foods should you avoid?

Looking for top quality food for the fussiest of felines? At Burgess, all our delicious dry cat food is made using premium ingredients to ensure excellent quality and superior taste, with kitten, adult, neutered andmature varieties available. What’s more, Burgess Cat Food is a complete food. This means that, whatever variety you choose for your cat throughout their life, it will contain all the nutrients they need in the correct balance.

CARE MORE Find out more about caring for your cat from the pet experts >>

HOW MUCH SHOULD I FEED MY DOG? Every dog is an individual and how much you should feed them depends on all manner of factors including breed, age and activity level. 

Each and every dog deserves a first-class dinner – from puppy to adult and senior. Burgess Pet Care is a British, family-owned company and all our dog foods are made at our own factory in the heart of Yorkshire, using only ingredients that meet our stringent specifications – locally sourced wherever possible to support British farmers. We’ve also developed foods to meet the specific nutritional needs of sporting and working dogs, Greyhounds and Lurchers as well as super premium food at an affordable price for dogs with sensitivities. All Burgess dog food is a complete food, so, whatever variety you choose for your dog, it will contain all the nutrients they need in the correct balance.

CARE MORE Find out more about caring for your dog from the pet experts >>

Is your cat a Burgess cat? Is your dog a Burgess dog ? Join the Burgess Pet Club for exclusive offers and rewards

12 facts you may not know about Burgess Pet Care! >>

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