Hi there
I desperately need some help with my 5 and half year old cat who's developed maternal aggression. I'll try to make this long story short

She had a litter in 2006 and was perfectly good with me around her at all times. There was no anger, hissing, growling or attacking. In fact, she moved her litter into my bedroom.

This time, she had a strange delivery a week ago (last Sunday). She had one kitten and she refused to go near it. I was near her, around her, handled the kitten (she gave birth on a shelf and the kitten was about to fall off!) and she was perfectly calm throughout. She didn't mind me being there but just didn't want to go near the kitten.

I moved houses on Monday and she came along with the kitten. This is a familiar house to her (she's lived her before with me). After a few peaceful hours - when I went to give her some food, she attacked me. She has never been a violent cat but this was a serious attack (my right leg was scratched crazily). I realized she was suddenly angry for some reason so I left her alone.

Tuesday early morning when I went to check on her - she had THREE more kittens!! The first one was lying there - dead (she never fed it). But these three were healthy ones and she was keenly feeding them. I didn't go near her, just put down a bowl of fresh food and she came at me AGAIN!

She has not calmed down since. It's been a week today. Currently she's in a big room in the house but I have to keep the door closed because she comes at me every time she sees me. I tried to let her roam around the house..and for a while she was okay..hissing and growling at me but slowly she became better (was rubbing herself against my legs) and I thought the aggressive phase was finally over. But she attacked me for NO reason again. I was standing in a room at the furthest end of the house (kittens were far far away in a room at the other end of the house) and she just snapped and scratched me again.

Sorry for the detailed post but I'm really confused about what to do. The kittens are healthy. She's eating well. But it's just this behaviour that's really disturbing. I don't want her to feel threatened or upset. She's always been super trusting of me so this is just really strange behaviour suddenly.

Can anyone please tell me how to handle this/what to expect?

Thank you so much!

I think she thought you tried to steal her first kitten, and maybe your smell was impregnated in that kitten and so that's why she didn't feed her. I think the agressive phase will pass once the kittens are big enough. Right now she might think you want to steal them from her, or hurt them, and that's why she acts like that.