Cat ate a kitten

fatedone

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During a prenatal check up, we had xrays done because when we adopted her, the shelter said she was spayed. The xray showed 5 kittens. She had two kittens yesterday, and then last night at some point she had 2 during the night last night. I only saw one deceased kitten, she was attempting to eat it on my bed when I woke up. We know she had 2 dead ones because we had another xray done today that showed one kitten left. She takes very good care of the two live kittens except she lets the runt go hours without pooping. So I've been helping her do that. So anyways, the vet gave her a shot of pitocin to help birth the last kitten and we are still waiting. He said if she doesn't have it by Friday, she will have surgery and spay her at the same time. The kitten in her belly is still alive so he doesn't see any harm in waiting since she's went back to stage 1 labor and isn't distressed. Has anyone else's cat had such a rough experience like this? Delivering kittens over a period of 3 days? Any ideas why 2 of them died? Here's a pic of her 2 sweet babies that are thriving well.
 

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It is not uncommon for a mother cat to eat a dead newborn kitten much a she eats the placenta.  If she doesn't dispose of it, she will have to move the whole litter within 24 hours.  I have never had the experience of having kittens born over 3 days, but that is not unheard of either.  I'm sorry she's having such a rough time of it and hope she delivers the last one soon and that it does well.  We have several articles that you may find informative, so I'll give you links here to make it easy for you to find them.

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Help! My Cat is Having Kittens!

Post-Birth Complications in Cats

How Do I Know When My Cat Will Give Birth?

Premature Kittens

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fatedone

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It is not uncommon for a mother cat to eat a dead newborn kitten much a she eats the placenta.  If she doesn't dispose of it, she will have to move the whole litter within 24 hours.  I have never had the experience of having kittens born over 3 days, but that is not unheard of either.  I'm sorry she's having such a rough time of it and hope she delivers the last one soon and that it does well.  We have several articles that you may find informative, so I'll give you links here to make it easy for you to find them.

Help! My Cat is Having Kittens!
Post-Birth Complications in Cats
How Do I Know When My Cat Will Give Birth?
Premature Kittens
Hello and thank you! When I read the premature kitten link, it raised the question if my little black one is premature? He has wrinkled skin and is much smaller than his litter mate. I've attached a picture to maybe get an opinion on that. She's not yet delivered the last kitten, still waiting.
 

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Yeah, when I saw the first pic, I got the impression he is a little on the prematurish side.   So be watchful.  He may do allright with good care by mom and you, but remember, it will be a fight uphill.   It always is with premature kittens.

It may be the main reason why these two died / were stillborn.   And its a good reason why not make immediate cesarean on the last inside.  If it is NOT his proper time as yet, its better to let him mature inside, to his proper time.  The danger of being too long inside, is much lesser then the real danger of being premature...   Its quite unlike humans here.

Good you do have assistance of a good vet.

Please, keep on with reports and questions.

Good luck!  @fatedone
 

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ps.  What were their weights when newborn?   If you dont have done it yet, begin asap.  Use a kitchen or post scale, measuring in grammes.  Easiest with an electronical scale.  They dont need to be fancy nor costly.  If you dont have, perhaps a neigbour can borrow you?

Measure every day at the same time.  With the blacky perhaps even twice a day, till you are sure he is stable.   He shall go up at least 6+ grammes every day.

Big healthy kittens shall go 10+, but we cant demand this from these smallish...

Good luck!
 
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fatedone

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ps.  What were their weights when newborn?   If you dont have done it yet, begin asap.  Use a kitchen or post scale, measuring in grammes.  Easiest with an electronical scale.  They dont need to be fancy nor costly.  If you dont have, perhaps a neigbour can borrow you?
Measure every day at the same time.  With the blacky perhaps even twice a day, till you are sure he is stable.   He shall go up at least 6+ grammes every day.
Big healthy kittens shall go 10+, but we cant demand this from these smallish...



Good luck!
I would have to agree with you. He weighed 95g and his litter mate weighed 144g. Today he weighs 116g, and the litter mate weighs 167g. The dead one we found her eating weighed 110g (was a whole kitten, she had just began to bite his head). Do you happen to know when he'll be out of the woods? I've only had to help him find a nipple a handful of times but I think that's to do with her hair. I appreciate your help @StefanZ.
 

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The birth weight was quite decent, and the gain very good.   Which is a VERY positive sign.   (its the littermate who is unusually big with these 144).   

Unless its something wrong with your scale of course.   For example, if you weight them on a plate, and  hadnt neutralised for that plates own weight...

So I think and hope the situation isnt critical, even quite hopeful.  Although you must still be vigilant, as the margins are smaller then usual.  A premature is for example easier prone to get infections like pneumonia.

The dead one 110 grams is good, so it was not smallishess which was the cause of the dead.

But, if they are from a "heavy weight at the birth batch" it may be so the natural weight in THIS especial litter should be 120+, and them having less, they were underweigh here....

If she is still very hairy around the nipples, you can cut off the fur around.  Most usually the fur falls off by itself / and or the mom licks the fur off the days before delivery.

Good luck!   @fatedone
 
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fatedone

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The birth weight was quite decent, and the gain very good.   Which is a VERY positive sign.   (its the littermate who is unusually big with these 144).   
Unless its something wrong with your scale of course.   For example, if you weight them on a plate, and  hadnt neutralised for that plates own weight...

So I think and hope the situation isnt critical, even quite hopeful.  Although you must still be vigilant, as the margins are smaller then usual.  A premature is for example easier prone to get infections like pneumonia.

The dead one 110 grams is good, so it was not smallishess which was the cause of the dead.
But, if they are from a "heavy weight at the birth batch" it may be so the natural weight in THIS especial litter should be 120+, and them having less, they were underweigh here....


If she is still very hairy around the nipples, you can cut off the fur around.  Most usually the fur falls off by itself / and or the mom licks the fur off the days before delivery.


Good luck!   @fatedone
Thanks. She had the last kitten and it didn't make it. It was 85g but looked plump and wasn't missing any hair. We tried for 30 minutes to get it to take deep breaths but to no avail. I am relieved that this is all over. It was very traumatizing. Will keep updating about my little guy. He's doing well. I'll probably be trimming her underside to help him out a bit. He purrs A lot and that makes me happy!
 

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I'm so sorry you and your cat had to go through this rough time.  I've heard that sometimes kittens are born at different times because the mother cat mated at the beginning and the end of her heat so some kittens are younger than others.  I agree that the mother cat eating the kitten isn't a bad sign, in the wild a dead kitten could attract predators.  Let's hope raising the kittens is a more rewarding experience!
 
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fatedone

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I'm so sorry you and your cat had to go through this rough time.  I've heard that sometimes kittens are born at different times because the mother cat mated at the beginning and the end of her heat so some kittens are younger than others.  I agree that the mother cat eating the kitten isn't a bad sign, in the wild a dead kitten could attract predators.  Let's hope raising the kittens is a more rewarding experience!
She was out of the house for 24 hours. But I've heard it can take 2 days to fertilize an egg. She's a good mom. The little boy is thriving!
 

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Sometimes a cat birthing is not so pleasant, as you found with this one.

Sorry about the losses :(

Please make it a plan to have her spayed as soon as she is able.

As for the smaller one, losing the others is a benefit to his survival, as normally the smallest gets deprived of the fullest nipples to nurse from, pushed off by the others.

Stay vigilant with weighing daily, this is the ideal way to record how theyre doing and if the proper amt is gained daily.

Good Luck!

PS I had a feral mom cat eat her 3 week old baby once. Talk about traumatized, my husband and I won't forget that one.

It is not abnormal, it's purely survival instinct.
 
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