ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Litter (animal)

Litter is something that animals make when they have babies. When a mommy animal gives birth to her little ones, those little ones are called litter. Different animals can have different numbers of babies in a litter. For example, a litter of kittens might have 2 or 3 kittens, while a litter of puppies might have 6 or 7 puppies.

When animals have a litter, they take care of their babies by feeding them milk and keeping them warm. As the babies grow, they start to learn how to walk and play. Eventually, they become big enough to care for themselves and become adults.

Sometimes, animals don't want to take care of their litter or can't take care of them, so people might have to step in and help. This is especially important for animals that are in captivity, like in a zoo or sanctuary, where workers need to ensure the baby animals are well cared for.

It's important that we also take care of the environment and not litter our waste, as that can have a big impact on animals and the environment we all share.