Newborn kitten died....

My cat had 5 kittens Thursday/Friday .. All looked well.

I have never had newborn kittens and looked online for guidance. Set up a box for her, after having kittens she started to carry them to my office (where she usually hangs out)... So my husband moved the box to my office.

She would take this one kitten out, as if to show it to me. I would tell her to take it back to her box, and walk over to the box and she would. This evening the kitten was not moving much and separated from the other 4.. She seemed a bit cooler so I held her and warmed her up. Mamma wanted her back from me and took her to the box and laid near kittens with them all on top of each other and she put her paw protectively on top of this baby. My husband said just leave them alone, mama cat knows what she is doing.

Half an hour later we went to check on them and this baby was gone. All others active, feeding, etc

My husband who grew up on a farm, was like "something was wrong, and the mama knew"... Etc it happens.

My kids (14 & 15) are devastated. It is their first experience with kittens and now the one we all noticed and loved for being all grey with a white face, like he fell into a bowl of flour head first... Is gone. I feel like it is my fault I should have done something... Anything!

How do I help my kids cope with the loss? Explain there was nothing else we could of done when I feel I should have done something?

Thanks

Appraizer said:

My husband who grew up on a farm, was like "something was wrong, and the mama knew"... Etc it happens.

 

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Yes, your Dearest has right here.  Yet you were lucky here in this, mom feeling there is something wrong with one, often abandon it.  Here, the mom apparently being an excellent mom and also trusting you, tried to help it anyway.

I agree, almost surely there was nothing to do.  Even if you took the kitten to a vet, its not sure at all the vet could do anything.  Even if he WERE good at helping small weak kittens - many arent.    Could be anything.  Pneumonia - which is one of the very few conditions which possibly, but barely possibly, could be tried to help, with antibiotica quickly enough.   This is the condition which takes most of the healthy born kittens.

Hole in the palate (roof of mouth), almost anything...

Not pleasant, but really not much to do with this one.  The only to do is to concentrate and enjoy of the living.

IF kittens and kittens welfare is important to you and your children, you can use this experience for later.

After you spayed your excellent mom, you can perhaps cooperate with some rescue shelter, and help them with motherless kittens, having your ex mom as their foster mom.

Something like that.    And thus, the death of this little one will not be in wain.

Good luck!

Sadly not all the kittens survive in the litter and usually mama cats knows as your husband said. When there's something wrong with a kitten the mama would abandon it. So maybe the little one was born with some illness or internal problem that's why it didn't survive. And yes there's nothing we can do about it because newborns are so fragile that not even a Vet can save them if they are born with some internal problem.

I think this experience is very important for your kids as they can learn about the importance of life and how delicate animal babies are.

So sorry that you lost the kitten but, as others have said, there was nothing you could have done. It's not that unusual for young kittens to die like this.

Weigh all the other kittens, kitchen scales are good for this, and make a note of their weight. Weigh them at the same time every day so that you can be sure they are gaining. One of the first signs that something is wrong is when kittens fail to gain weight every day. This is one way that you can keep an eye on the others and make sure that they are healthy.

Your kids can help you with this, it's a good way for them to get over the loss of the kitten.

Good luck with all of the others. We're here if you need us.

 

Thanks for the kind words.. I keep checking on the kittens and they look good. Mama seems to be wandering out from the box more frequently.. I wonder if she is looking for the one that is missing?

Is it ok to handle the other kittens? My hubby says leave them alone.. Some sites say not to handle them for a week...

I don't want to do anything to jeopardize any of the other kittens. Thank for your help again and sorry for all the questions

Appraizer said:

Thanks for the kind words.. I keep checking on the kittens and they look good. Mama seems to be wandering out from the box more frequently.. I wonder if she is looking for the one that is missing?

Is it ok to handle the other kittens? My hubby says leave them alone.. Some sites say not to handle them for a week...

I don't want to do anything to jeopardize any of the other kittens. Thank for your help again and sorry for all the questions

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Being a good mom, its quite possible she do miss the deceased one.  Oh, all cat moms sorrow lost children.  But cat moms are good at concentratin on the necessary tasks still to do, ie salving these still healthy and alive. 

Yes, you can handle the kittens, if you are careful - not stressing the mom.  You husband has partly right - dont overdo it as yet.  But as most breeders and rescuers DO weigh their kittens every day, its apparently fully possible to handle some the kittens.  Even many shy semiferale moms allow this, as long you do it respectfully.  Weighting the kitten near the nest, so mom sees the whole time what you are doing, and hears its not protesting...  And do it quickly, at very most half minute apiece.  Should be more than enough with that time, if you have everything prepared in advance.

You will also need to change the bedding. Ie you will do it. But sometimes the mom will herself carry them over to the next nest waiting on her, but sometimes you must carry them over, and mom follows.

This here weighting every day gives you the possibility to a quick look see if there isnt nothing missing, and to get an intuitive feeling of how they are doing.

And of course, you arent bothering us with your questions.  We ARE here for the purpose of helping  cats and people like you.  You are welcome!

We dont always have the answers, and sometimes we lack the time or are too tired - we are just mortal humans we too,  but we never ever mind to get questions and reports.

Good luck!

My cat had 5 kittens also and her last born was born with his intestines outside of his body. She didn't want anything to do with him and kept herself occupied with the other 4. Im not sure if your not supposed to handle them in the firat week but i handled mine since day one. They are about 6 weeks now and are healthy playful kittens. They are also very cuddly and love to sleep in my arms. I dont see any harm i believe that if momma is ok with it why not.

New development...

When I get home the mama cat meows and wants me to follow her down to my office. When I go down to the office. she promptly brings me a kitten. I put it back.

If I go back upstairs right away, she will bring a kitten upstairs to me... I put it back.

I decided to sit at my desk... where you guessed it.. she promptly brings me a kitten.

At first it was the same kitten, now it varies (I guess whichever one is closest)

I put the kitten back.... 

She only brings them to me and only if I have been out for a long time or haven't been in my office .. not to my kids (who are teenagers) or my husband. They never touch the kittens.

After a bit of this back and forth, she leaves them be in the box, lays with them etc. She is looking after all of them (feeding, licking, etc).

Best I can figure out is that she has always been a very social cat, and usually spends the day with me (following me around, sitting on my desk as I work, etc). Now, she spends all day in the office with the babies. I think she is a bit lonely. 

I wonder if she is thinking "look at this kitten" "look what I have".... "want one?"

Should I be concerned?

Thanks to everyone for the posts