Q: Is it true that tom cats will kill kittens?

Answer: It is also a widespread opinion that male will kill and/or cannibalize their offspring. In general, it seems that the killing of kittens arises where the male is attracted to a female coming into heat soon after her kittens have been born. Attempts to mate her, however, are unwelcome and she fights him off. The excited male then attempts to mate with one or more of the kittens but naturally his efforts are unsuccessful, simply because of their relative sizes, and as his mating grip on the nape of the kitten’s neck intensifies, he injuries and finally the kitten. There is then an instinctive reaction to consume, partially or wholly, the dead offspring. Because of the possibility of this happing, it is always advisable to keep toms segregated from kitten until they are four months’ old.