Pet King

y he prepared a quiet delivery room for them.
Nobody knew when they were due to give birth, not even the cats themselves.　　

Sponsored Content

The cats were first-time mothers.
It was also Zhang Zian ’s first experience with pregnant cats.
His family used to run a pet shop, but all the pets were brought in, he had never helped any give birth.
　

His biggest concern was that the cats would lack maternal instincts and eat their kittens.

When it came to breeding, female cats who had successfully given birth were the most valuable becaue they demonstrated that they were able to reproduce without the risk of filial cannibalism.　　

To this day, the causes of filial cannibalism were complicated and not fully known.
Cats weren ’t the only species with this behavior, other household pets—like dogs and hamsters—were affected too.　　

The most believed reasons for filial cannibalism was that the female was disturbed during labor or they discovered that their newborn had a certain disease or disorder.
In some circumstances, the mother ate the defected or diseased newborn to regain the strength it lost while giving birth.　　

It was a survival instinct that the animals had developed under the harsh conditions of nature.
Even as animals were domesticated, some that instinct was preserved.
In order to guarantee its own survival and the survival of its newborns, the mother had to eliminate the weak ones.
　　

However, the cats were inexperienced, so they might incorrectly judge the kittens ’ health status.
They could end up eating the healthy ones.　　

Sponsored Content

With help, kittens with defects could survive, and even grow up healthy, but the cats didn ’t know this.
The pain and anxiety of labor made them follow their basic instincts.

On the other hand, a small number of female cats ate their kittens just because they wanted to eat them.
This was because of a lack of maternal instincts.　　

Statistically, a kitten ’s survival rate was the lowest in a cat ’s first litter, as a result of the mother ’s lack of experience.
After a successful first litter, a kitten ’s survival rate grew higher and peaked at the fifth litter, but declined in the sixth litter.
Respectable breeders wouldn ’t allow a cat to have more than five litters.
　　

The good news was filial cannibalism in cats and dogs wasn ’t as bad as in hamsters and rabbits, who, in some cases, could devour the entire litter.
When Zhang Zian heard that Little Celery ’s class was going to try hamster breeding next semester, he made a mental note to talk to them.
Otherwise, it might end up a disaster, and Little Celery and her friends would be devastated.

Zhang Zian didn ’t feel sleepy as he remembered that the Abyssinian cats next door were about to go into labor.　　

In order to not disturb the birth, he bought a baby monitor online—and installed the sensor in the cats ’ room and the receiver in his bedroom—so that he could check on them at anytime.　　

When Old Time Tea and Fina heard unusual noises from the baby monitor, they figured that the cats were in labor.
Maybe it was induced by the firework disturbance.　　

Zhang Zian put on his clothes.
”You guys go back to sleep.
I ’ll check on them. ”　　

Fina jumped out of its princess bed.
”I ’m going, too. ”