Another rescue, looks like big trouble, I could sure use some insight....NOT FOR THE SQUEAMISH.

Just want to start by saying how much I love coming to this site, it's been a while, and those who recognize my name and remember the last big drama I was dealing with was Hope, the cat who was deathly sick, who lost all 7 of her tiny newborns one by one.

I am thrilled to say that Miss Hope is 100% well! What a character, she is so full of herself Her boney frame no longer shows, she has gained over 3 pounds! Fur is lustrous, bright eyed and gettin spayed next week, and will be ready to be adopted!

Now for my next story.

I just happened to accidentally catch wind of a cat in the feral cat barn I talked about that is at the shelter who was about to be euthanized and delivered 4 babies rght then and there.

Of course I pulled her.

A gorgeous siamese, but feral as all getout, wth 4 babies, 3 who looked just like her, and 1 black/beige bullseye tabby. Beauties!

So she's caged in my cat room, I've done this more times than I can count, basically just leave her be and she will care for them, although her being so feral I wanted to see how well she would care for them being caged and all so I set up the video monitor on her cage so I can watch her anytime I go into the kitchen.

She is a great loving mom, no problems.

The night before last (babies were exactly 3 weeks old that day) I got up out of bed to get a drink, of course the monitor glowing always gets my attention and my husband and I would sometimes stand there watching her loving her kids, so I look and notice only 3 kids....wth??...

I get my husband awake and out of bed (he's such a sport and we head out to the cat room, no 4th kitten.

To get right to the point, she ate the 4th baby.

Now I am aware that this happens sometimes, but I have never had it happen to me with feral moms in my care before, so it was very hard to believe that she would eat a big fat healthy 3 week old kid! I mean wow...brand newborn baby it was NOT.

I can't begin to explain how tortured we both are over this happening. WHY??

Tonight we were out there doing the nightly overhaul, cleaning kitten cages, etc., Jeff is the onewho has been carig for the nmoms cage since she is not a shy feral but a more aggressive feral, and personally I'd rather keep my arms and fingers thank you..

Now that the kittens are getting older they can climb out of the nesting box I have in her cage and woop, one by one they decided they were coming out to see just who we are and to say hi.

So Jeff grabs one at a ime and shows me, I examined each one and notice something. They're poopy. Mom is constantly cleaning, but they have poopy butts and it looks like diarrhea type poop. One even looks like his butt is red and the fur on his tail right above his butt is missing like the poop sort of burned the fur there.

So now I'm wondering....is THIS why she ate her baby? From diarrhea? Are the rest of them safe? What the hell would give them diarrhea so young like that? Crap I don't think I've ever had to treat kittens so young for this, maybe early signs of URI or eye infections, but shoot I don't know about giving meds to 3 week old babies. But I'm afraid to wait, frankly I'm afraid period. I can't possibly handle her eating anymore. What  nightmare.

I have Pyrantel, Ponazuril, Albon, all of them.

Maybe I just talked myself into taking one or all 3 to the vet...

Oh I also want to add, they're not fat litle furballs, they seem thin but with big tummies, I mean big.

Any ideas here or anyone experienced this?

Thanks, I love you all and appreciate your advice, ideas or support.

Personally, if they are 3 weeks I would remove them from the mom at this point, for their safety. At 3 weeks they could probably start weaning fairly soon however you will likely need to bottle feed for now.  It sounds like they may have internal parasites, that could be the cause of the diarrhea and the pot-bellied appearance. IMO I would have your vet take a look.

Yes I agree,  I believe they have parasites as well. I wonder if this would be reason enough for a loving mom to eat her baby though, probably will never know the answer to that one!

I am considering puling them but it will be only if I have to, I have so many other kittens right now I am neglecting everything else in my life because of it and if at all possible would much rather NOT, but we'll see, of course I have to protect them too.

Thanks.

Big tummies? Sounds like worms to me. The thought of a cat eating a baby kitty turns my stomach :S I guess we will never know why.

Yeah, believe me, I have lot alot of sleep since.....

As I said in my OP, I a aware that it happens sometimes, it's a ferals instinct of survival and protection for her litter, she does not realize she is safe here and only knows that for whatever reason she thought the baby was a weak link for their survival, she would not want to have a dead baby as a predator will smell and come, which is why she will eat it, completely, not even a drop of blood left behind to attract predators.

I have never had this happen before though. I cant even allow my mind to wander through the details.Too much.