My kitten smells weird. Will its mom accept it after the vet?

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Teagra likely visually doesn't remember the kitten sadly. She goes by smell with recognition. The kitten, since it was in a different home, smells different to her. It just may take time for her to accept it as a new house mate. You can rub the kitten down in her bedding or the other remaining kittens bedding. Also using feliway diffusers or spray to help calm her may help. But I think what Teagra is doing is relatively normal for a cat. http://pet-supplies.drsfostersmith.com/search?af=type%3Aproduct&view=grid&w=feliway&visitorID=&cartcount=0&wishcount=0&division=cats

You can take an article of clothing or blanket that the kitten has been laying in and rub that scent on the side of mom's face. You should also rub the kittens scent in an area where mom spends a lot of her time. Then give it time. Eventually mom will come around. With cats you sometimes have to be a little more patient, because their adjustments are often slow and methodical.

Hello, its likely that your kitten has an of smell from the hospital. You can wipe him down with non-scented baby wipes to remove the smell from the hospital. And wrap him in blankets or towels that are used by your other cats so that he may regain his natural scent. Once he has fully healed from his surgery you may also bathe him to rid of the smells. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Try bathing him in a gentle pet or baby shampoo, but make sure to dry him well after his bath so that he does not get too cold. Also wash all of his bedding well because he likely transferred the odor by contact.

Hello, sorry to hear about your kittens. If mom was away from the kittens, if she had a bath, or if the kittens had a bath then they could be having a hard time recognizing their smells. If this behavior continues then you may need to separate them and reintroduce them slowly. Otherwise, keep an eye on them and make sure that they are not fighting too often. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Animals have short memories and will not recognize family or cats they previously knew if they are separated for a length of time. Cats go by smell and behavior. I would recommend confining Fuzza in a room by herself for 2 weeks to allow the cats to get used to her smell from under a door. Get a few Feliway diffusers (multicat) to put around the house, be sure one is in the room with Fuzza. After 2 weeks use a baby gate at the door or put Fuzza in a cat carrier a few times per day so all the cats can see each other and smell each other. Do that for a week. Then let Fuzza out in the house for short periods of time when you are home. If things are going well then they all can be out together permanently. If it doesn't work out you may have to find her a new home. I wish you the best!

It is possible that the momma cat thinks there is something wrong with this kitten, that it doesn't smell right, or that she isn't a great momma cat. I would continue to watch and see if she will claim the kitten within 24 hours. If not, you may have to take away the kitten and bottle raise it. If you do, I would have the kitten examined by a vet for any possible congenital abnormalities that the momma cat may have picked up on. Here is an article for raising orphan kittens (if you need it!): http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A