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Mom won't let her kittens go!

We have three 5 week old kittens with their mother. All are still nursing and a week ago they managed to climb out of their shallow box and wander around a bit in the room they were staying. After two days of being quite mobile, the mother decided to move them behind my wife’s night table, where they couldn’t wander beyond the box. We expanded the area so that the box and very small area to walk in was enclosed; however, even only 2 feet away, the mother cat still picks them up and brings them back to the box! They’re clearly frustrated and I think so is she. How do we get her to let the kittens explore, even a little?

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Answer #1

kittens need their mom for 6 to 8 weeks so it is natural that the mom wont let them go. over time it will happen but what you can do is play with the kittens and while playing with them you can allow them to explore, let the mom see so she knows they not in danger. otherwise leave them. when the time is right she will let them go, its a mothers instinct, she knows when the time is right and obviously doesnt think that now is the right time

Answer #2

By force. Put the mother in a closet and let the kittens run around.

Answer #3

Or you could just leave the mother alone? She will eventually let them be… for now, just let her be…

Answer #4

separate them each day for a 30 minute period and over time both parties should get more used to being apart.

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