Last Updated: 9 months ago
As humans, we often joke about how our cats deem us to be lowly creatures, how they are of higher intelligence than us piddly humans, and so forth.
Cats are mysterious and affectionate creatures, often engaging in behaviors that leave their human companions puzzled.
One such endearing behavior is when a mother cat brings her kittens to a human. Discovering that your cat has brought her kittens to you can be both surprising and heartwarming.
This behavior, rooted in maternal instincts and social dynamics, sheds light on the fascinating world of feline communication.
If you see yourself as part of a community that comes together to help each other, it makes sense that your cat would bring her kittens to your bed.
8 Most Common Reasons Why Do Cats Bring You Their Kittens
From seeking safety and protection to displaying trust and seeking assistance, there are several reasons why cats exhibit this behavior.
Let’s explore the most common motivations behind this fascinating behavior.
1. Motherly Instincts

As a natural maternal behavior, cats may bring their kittens to you. Cats are instinctively protective of their young.
By bringing her kittens to you, a mother cat is seeking a safe haven where she perceives no threats from predators.
In the wild, mother cats relocate their kittens to safer locations or bring them back to the nest if they wander.
Similarly, domestic cats may perceive you as a trusted caregiver and seek your help in relocating their kittens to a safer spot within the home.
2. Seeking Help
She knows that you care for her and understands that you will take care of her offspring just as well, maybe even better.
If a mother cat feels overwhelmed or stressed by caring for her kittens, she may bring them to you as a cry for help.
She might need a break or assistance with feeding and cleaning her kittens.
This behavior may indicate that she trusts you to provide assistance or support in caring for her children.
It’s essential to assess the mother cat’s health and well-being and provide any necessary help or veterinary attention if needed.
3. Social Bonding

Introducing kittens to humans early on is crucial for their social development.
Bringing kittens into your life can be a sign of social bonding and trust.
Cats are social animals that form strong bonds with their human companions.
By sharing her kittens with you, a mother cat may be seeking affirmation of her relationship with you and reinforcing the bond between you and her offspring.
4. Seeking Approval
Cats are known for their independent nature, but they also seek validation and approval from their human caregivers.
Feline is ecstatic to inform her favorite human, you, that she is now a mother.
Bringing kittens to you may be a way for a mother cat to seek your approval or validation of her role as a caregiver.
Acknowledging and praising her maternal instincts can reinforce her behavior and strengthen the bond between you and your cat family.
5. Teaching

Some mother cats bring their kittens to you as a way to facilitate socialization and learning.
By exposing her kittens to human interaction from an early age, a mother cat helps them become familiar with human scents, sounds, and behaviors.
It can be beneficial for their development and future interactions with people.
6. Affection and Trust
Bringing kittens to you is a sign of ultimate trust and affection. You are considered part of her pack, and she trusts you indefinitely.
It shows that the mother cat considers you part of her family and trusts you enough to care for her most precious possessions—her kittens.
Cats often understand that humans can provide medical help, so this could be a way of asking for a health check-up.
7. Health Conditions

If she isn’t feeling well or if it turns out that she isn’t fortunate enough to survive the birth, you’re the surrogate mother for the babies.
Maybe the area she gave birth in is not an idea for her, and I would like you to find a better-suited location for her and the babies.
Depending on her age, maybe she isn’t old enough to do this on her own and brings them to you for guidance. After all, you are the one she trusts.
8. Rejection
She may realize that the kittens are weak, and she doesn’t know what to do or how to be a good mom.
The chances of this might seem slim, but there are animals out there that have no mothering instincts at all.
She may not want the kittens anywhere near her and isn’t interested in them whatsoever, but that is when we humans come in and hand-raise the babies.
Wrap-Up
It’s a behavior that signifies trust, affection, and a plea for partnership in the journey of raising their young.
Remember that every time a cat entrusts you with her kittens, it’s a testament to the special bond you share.
Do you have any other thoughts on this cat’s behavior? Share them with us in the comments; there’s probably something we hadn’t thought of!
I can imagine how surprising it might be to find your cat bringing her kittens to your bed but all of these reasons why she might do so make perfect sense. I don’t own cats myself, so I didn’t even know this was something that mamma cats did!
Interesting thoughts for sure. Thanks for sharing them with us. I’m sure it will help someone understand a little better.
My cat blossom keeps bringing her 2 newborn to me, I’ve been feeding them for her because she hasn’t been producing enough milk and her other ones recently passed. Should I be concerned?
I live in a small basement apartment with my kids and my cat and now her kittens My youngest daughter and I sleep in my room, thats where we spend the majority of our time when we’re home. The cat also enjoys being in my room with us. I think she is bringing the kittens in here to be with us. She seems less parenoidand anxious when they’re in here with us.
My cat brings me leaves everyday and stacks them proudly
I think I would feel honored if my cat brought her kittens to my bed. It definitely shows a sense of trust for mama to want to share her pride and joy with her human.
Cats are wonderful animals and it’s interesting to know what they mean by small actions theey do. Great read.
I had no idea about why cats bring their kittens to our beds. It’s so sweet to think that this act means that they trust us indefinitely.
Well I took a 10 so that she would not end up pregnant and I realized that she had come to me already she had 5 kittens all of them are alive but with her I think she is so very young she exhibited the behavior of a first letter and she did not seem to be eating enough to make enough milk I think she was bringing her kittens today because she did not have enough milk to feed them and I think it was stressing her out but we’re eating more canned food right now and we’re going to take it one day at a time
Cats are so interesting! I remember my childhood cat doing this, and I had no idea there were so many reasons behind it.
I just want to know why my cat chose to have her babies rite smack on my chest. I woke up to baby kittens meowing in the middle of giving birth to more on my chest. The next set was had on my back. It was then I decided to get her fixed
Cats are really sweet animals. Maybe the reason behind of bringing their kittens in bed because they know they will be safe more with us.
I’m thinking about getting a cat, and I never knew this.
This makes happy! Our cat just became a mother. 1st litter and she is doing so well. It’s nice to know she trust us this much, considering she was a stray tiny kitten when we got her. We now have 3 tiny little floors!
I never knew this. It’s really interesting.
This is really interesting.
These were all great reasons but my kitty did one better than bring her kittens to me, she actually had them on top of me …Literally. She’s had 2 litters ad both times she has done this. Can’t wait to see if she brings her kittens to me even though her nesting box is right between my bed and desk .
Thanks for sharing 🙂
I had a momma cat that did this! All 8 babies born in my lap. I thought it was strange she was nuzzling my face one night at bed time, just to find her taking me to her box and I sat there with her and helped her deliver all 8. This was her 4th litter but 1st with me (husband’s family never got her fixed and threw her outside when they moved, I went and caught her bringing her home to insure she was safe and babies cared for properly.) Her and her lil ones have sense been rehomed and all properly vetted & fixed.
My cats did this! Both were rescued, and both were pregnant. One got behind me in a large, soft chair while I was on a desktop computer and the other literally between my knees in my bed!
I had never had a bred cat before, so I had no idea they did this! You can imagine my surprise when the tiny mewing started…
Mine tried to give birth on my lap too but I kept moving her next to me and stroking her
My cat gave birth on my bed. Although she lives with me, my boyfriend (now Fiancé) was ger favorite human. If her litter of 5, one if them would cry constantly. After a few days, momma brought the crier to me and placed her on my chest, while we were watching tv in bed. The kitten stopped crying! She repeated this every day and night. It’s been 4 years and that kitten is still attached to me and is my loyal protector. She honors me.
My cat brought the babies to my bed because she use to sleep with us when it was cold and it got chilly last night so she didn’t want to leave them. Hope this helps.
My cat recently had kittens. Shes been doing this and I had questions why she was. Ever since I got her when she was a kitty herself shes been attached to my hip. So this makes perfect sense.
Hi, I was feeding a female street cat for a while.
And after about two months, I found out that the cat was pregnant and even now she gave birth and I think the kitten was born almost three weeks ago but she has not brought the baby to me yet. Is it possible that she brings the kitten to me?
She is completely comfortable with me, she snoozes next to me and cleans herself and ….
What can I give her to eat and what else can I do? Thankful
My cat brings me her newborn and i don’t know why. Turns out she needs my help to remove the dried umbilical cord that was tangled on her kittens foot and was already swelling and has turned bluish black because of how tight it was tied on the poor kittens little foot.
I did wonder why my Princess kept putting her babies under my covers while I was sitting in bed. I still have a picture of it too. Both my baby and I were constantly worried and making sure they were out of danger, she was a very patient girl with her original 4 and her two foster babies. I’m pretty sure she gave them to me because she was tired of them haha- but then again she refused to have her litter in the first place without me, my sister, and at least one of our other two cats at the time. Our poor Wednesday definitely wasn’t eager to watch her big sister have babies, but Princess would scream the minute she left her sight.
My cat Aubrey had two of her kittens laying on me and the third in a laundry basket, where my Husband put her and the other two kittens. I was so honored, but surprised that she had kittens on me. I was hoping it to mean that she must really love me!