Queen

A queen is a cat that is expecting or has recently given birth to a litter of kits. Though known to be overly-protective of kits, queens usually are compassionate and kind, and in many cases they have been known to convince their mates or Clan leaders to take in cats in need of help.
==Description==
:When a cat is expecting kits or has recently given birth to a litter of kits, they become known as a queen and move to the nursery. When cats become queens, they give up their title and duties as a warrior. However, they become a warrior again once their kits have been apprenticed. Some cats, though, prefer to stay in the nursery even after their kits have become apprentices, such as Daisy and Ferncloud.From Sunset on, they have been listed as queens in the allegiances Queens have a vital role in continuing the Clans' survival as they give birth to the next generation of warriors. When a warrior dies, a queen might prepare the body with herbs for the vigil. Some cats are unable to have kits, however much they want them. If a queen does not wish to tell who the father of the kits is to the Clan, that is their choice. Queens usually adore their kits and want to make sure that they can be the best that they can be.
:A female leader or deputy generally does not have kits (although it is not explicitly forbidden, as Leafstar and Squirrelflight had kits), because looking after kits would keep them away from their leader or deputy duties for six moons or more.No known deputy aside from Squirrelflight has had kits while doing their job Male leaders, on the other hand, are able to father kits, such as Hailstar, Pinestar, Crookedstar, Bramblestar, and Firestar, due to the fact that they are not required to stay in the nursery.
==Nursing==
:Queens move to the nursery about a moon before giving birth, taking leave of their warrior duties. They have their food delivered to them by their Clanmates as they become less mobile. A cat's pregnancy is just over two moons, after which they give birth to the possible litter of one to five kits.No known queen has not had a litter of over five kits. The kits usually open their eyes soon, some almost from the moment born, and others in a day or two. Queens that have not yet kitted have no milk-scent; in contrast, those who have kitted have the milk-scent on them.
:While kits are weaned at two moons, the queens remain in the nursery until they are made apprentices (typically around six moons) to ensure proper care and education. Sometimes—although it is very rare—a queen leaves the nursery before their kits become apprentices (such as how Moonflower did). Also, sometimes they leave before all of their kits become apprentices, such as Rainflower.
:When a queen is unable to produce enough milk to feed their kits, another queen who has plenty of milk to spare will help them nurse until the kits are ready for fresh-kill, such as Daisy and Ferncloud did when Squirrelflight did not have any milk. Queens will also feed kits from outside of the Clan; for example, when Cloudkit was brought to ThunderClan, Frostfur convinced Brindleface to feed him.
:A cat may request to stay in the nursery after their kits are apprenticed, instead of resuming warrior duties. Goldenflower, Ferncloud and Daisy often helped out when needed in the nursery.
:Borage leaves are sometimes given to queens that cannot produce milk for their kits, and parsley for those who still have milk even though they do not have kits.
==Restrictions==
:A medicine cat, of any gender, is not allowed to take a mate and have kits, in order to not be distracted from their duties. Leafpool and Yellowfang were two examples of breaking this rule.As revealed by the authors
==List of queens==
===ThunderClan===
{|width="99%"	ThunderClan	
===RiverClan===
{|width="99%"	RiverClan	
===WindClan===
{| width="99%"	WindClan	
===ShadowClan===
{| width="99%"	ShadowClan	
===SkyClan===
{| width="99%"	SkyClan	
===StormClan===
{| width="99%"	StormClan	
===Half-Clan===
{| width="99%"	Half-Clan	
===The Ancients===
{| width="99%"	The Ancients	
===Tribe of Rushing Water===
{| width="99%"	Tribe of Rushing Water	
===The Early Settlers===
{| width="99%"	The Early Settlers	
===The guardian cats===
{| width="99%"	The guardian cats	
===The Sisters===
{| width="99%"	The Sisters	
===Cats of the Park===
{|width="99%"	Cats of the Park	
===The wildcats===
{| width="99%"	The wildcats	
===Kittypets===
{| width="99%"	Kittypets	
===Loners===
{| width="99%"	Loners	
===Rogues===
{| width="99%"	Rogues	
===Unknown===
{| width="99%"	Unknown	
==Trivia==
*In the first books of the The Prophecies Begin arc, "queen" seems to mean any she-cat (even female elders are named queens such as One-eye and Dappletail) not just a nursing cat.
==See also==
*List of queens
*Kit
*Nursery
==External links==
*
*
*
* 
==Notes and references==
de:Königinnen
fi:Kuningatar
fr:Reine
lt:Valdovė
nl:Moederkat
pl:Karmicielka
ru:Королева
uk:Королева
Category:Clan hierarchy