Kangaroos only birth one joey at a time, according to Live Science. But their muscles allow the pouch to expand and contract to make space, according to Insider, which helps to manage a joey at all stages. When they’re first born, joeys are called jellybeans due to their size, Insider reports, but by the time they leave the pouch, they’re closer to the size of an adult cat.
The expandable pouch is also helpful when they have to tuck in two babies who were born a few months apart. Insider reports the mother even produces different milks simultaneously to meet the needs of multiple joeys at different development stages.
But the mother also needs to keep the space clean. The joey stays inside constantly for the first few months, and even when it’s older, it will drag in dirt and mess from the outside. The mother kangaroo must clean the pouch out during those months, according to Live Science, even when the baby is still inside. She does that by licking into the pouch to clear out things like dirt and urine.
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