The kitten is completely dependent on its mother until it is around six weeks old. Up until this time the mother will hunt to feed the kittens, produce milk for the kittens to suckle and lick the kittens genitals to encourage the kitten to eliminate.
She will teach the kittens to hunt and become self sufficient by bringing half dead prey for the kittens to 'finish off'.
Once the kittens reach a position where they are able to leave the nest she will force them to be more able to cope by themselves, sometimes she will push the kittens away if they come to her to suckle, making herself unavailable.
The reason for your cat's behaviour maybe due to an underlying medical reason. If you are concerned about your cat, always consult your vet or a cat behaviourist for professional, qualified advice.
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