The queen retrieves her kittens to the den area by carrying them by the scruff of the neck, or by gently holding the kitten's head in her mouth. Aggression Directed Toward Offspring Aggressiveness by a bitch or queen toward her own litter may be intentional or unintentional . In the process of severing the umbilical cord and licking each newborn dry, some females unintentionally injure the abdominal wall. Grooming can become so excessive by an overly anxious mother that the newborn cannot nurse and may die from lack of nourishment and loss of body heat. Some kittens or puppies may be accidentally smothered by their mother.
Cannibalism occurs in both dogs and cats but is infrequent.
A mother that has cannibalized her offspring should probably not be bred again. Male dogs and cats should be supervised near young offspring . They do not recognize their own offspring and do not participate in their care. Males are threats to the young and many females protect their litter against any perceived threat. Intact male cats, in particular, may pose real threats.