Advice needed & many questions with my new Mama Cat

Hello, I have run into some situations with my kitties that have me a bit stumped. I have been a cat owner for about 1 year. I got my first kitty Lilith last year and despite many worries and some confusion, I have grow to very much understand her and we're very close. At the end of March(29th I think), I ended up adopting my sister's cat Luna to give her a safer home. It took a bit, and oddly enough, Lilith wasn't territorial, but Luna messed with her and was kind of mean. Tables turned after a week and Lilith started getting revenge. It settled down after about 3 weeks, and they've been much calmer.

Then on April 24th, I ended up adopting Lilith's pregnant sister Prissy(still working on a new name), so I could rescue her from an abusive owner and give her a loving home like Lilith. I brought her home, and after giving her wet food, she warmed right up to me & was super nice and started being possessive of me. However she was a grouch to Luna & Lilith for quite awhile, always hissing and growling when they came near her. Things have been really good after about nearly 2 weeks, & I figured all seemed well.

Well yesterday, I woke up to find Prissy had delivered 4 kittens while I was sleeping(what a surprise to wake up to). So other than a few hisses at Luna to stay away from the carrier they're resting in, everything has generally been peaceful. Well last night I was super paranoid about Lilith and Luna possibly trying to bug Prissy and her kittens(& being super worried about the kittens), so I slept out in my hallway right beside the carrier with my electric heater kind of close by(pointed at me, not the carrier). I woke around 5 AM PST, and I went to get Prissy some wet food. After eating, she started trying to take her kittens somewhere while she was meowing at me, but she was leaving the 4th one and dragging 3 at once. I wanted them to stay in the carrier(it's big enough for a nearly medium sized dog), because it had quite a few towels, it's dark, quiet, and safest for the kittens and Prissy. So even though I put them back in there and she settled down, I don't understand why she was trying to move them. She had already moved the kittens once before, so I don't understand why she was doing it again. Furthermore, she just walked out into the living room and just attacked Luna for no reason. Luna didn't get even remotely close, and was minding her own business. I understand her being protective of her kittens, but I don't see why she would seek out a conflict with Luna when she was in another room practically? It's my first time dealing with a pregnant cat and newborn kittens, so any advice as to why this behavior is occurring would be greatly appreciated.

Mama cats are very protective of their kittens, and they will move them until they feel it is a good place.  Also, if you have not changed her bedding since she had the kittens, it may be time to do that as they will usually move their kittens after 24 hours if you don't do that. 

The best thing to do is to try to create a typical good place, which is dark and has a small entrance they can guard.  A closet is usually the ideal place for newborn kittens and their mama.  While they may like a box for the first few days, usually they don't want it for long.  I had one mama who started chewing one side off the cardboard box her kittens were in (it was in a closet and she chose it for giving birth, but as they started to crawl,, she wanted it gone so I removed it and cleaned up all the shredded cardboard she had created by chewing down the side.

Ideally, a closet in an UNUSED room is the best, but if you don't have that, then a closet in a room with little traffic, and keep the door partly closed with only a cat-sized opening.  If you set this up for her, she will probably accept it.  You do need to get something set up quickly or she will be dragging the kittens around which is not good.

She may have attacked Luna in the living room because there was a place in the living room she wanted to move her kittens, like under a couch, so she was clearing the area.  Once she is settled in an area she likes, the other cats will probably avoid it and you will have peace again.  Your number one priority is to get mama and babies settled in a place mama likes.  If your closets are full of stuff like most of mine are, it means moving the stuff out, putting down some bedding like a quilt or blanket and/or sheets, and keeping them clean by changing them out every few days.

If you don't have any closets, she MIGHT accept the carrier for awhile if it is in a corner of a quiet room and covered with a blanket to make it totally dark..  Basically, you need to think like a cat and create the best cave you can, then move her and her babies in there.  You can close the door for awhile to make sure she stays and gets settled.  Let us know how it's going and ask any more questions you may have.

Thanks for the advice Red Top Rescue. Prissy gave birth in Lilith's kitty bed(thank you Prissy), so when she decided to move them yesterday, I got really freaked out. But I had prepared the carrier with a bunch of clean dark towels, so it would be soft for the kittens, and soft for Prissy. She almost wouldn't go in there, and I had to pick up the kittens cause I didn't want her dragging them on my carpet(so they wouldn't get hurt), and I placed them in the carrier & eventually she settled down.

I admit that afterwards, I kept them in the hallway where I walk by because I thought the living room(where Luna & Lilith roam) would be dangerous, as well as uncomfortable for the kittens & Prissy(not to mention put everyone on edge). I kept it as dark as I could. Unfortunately, I do not have a closet I can put them in, and right now my bathroom is the safest place for them. I've put the carrier in there, and it's still got towels and it's very dark in there, and one of the more quiet places of the house. The carrier has a gate, which I leave open for Prissy to leave, and I've put her dry food & water in there with her so she doesn't have to go more than 2 feet. Her wet food I serve to her near the bathroom door, so she doesn't have to go out for it, or have a chance of fighting with my other kitties. She also has a little litter box so she doesn't have to go far either.

She later attacked Lilith for no reason as well, and she got in trouble for that. I don't mind her being protective, but she just was straight vicious towards both of them, and I don't want my kitties being afraid. Luna is now hiding up in a shelf, and Lilith is up my dining room table. I generally have been serving them food and water there, so they can avoid possible conflict. Also, in case it might not be apparent, all 3 kitties are females. Not sure if that has a factor in behavior?

She seems okay, but I have also been checking on Prissy every so often, and when I hear kitten meows, I admit I get nervous and go check with my light. I wish I hadn't read about cats consuming their young, because now I've become all super paranoid that will happen, so I'm checking on them more often. Sometimes she also leaves them alone, and is watching them meow/cry while they're slightly away from her, and it makes me nervous. I've had to guide the kittens back to their mom, cause I don't want them to get too cold and get sick. She'll also sometimes leave the kittens to come get attention from me, & while I don't mind giving attention, I just get worried if they're alone. I couldn't handle it if I have a kitten(or kitty) die on my watch or in my presence. I'm probably overreacting, but I just want to make sure I'm doing everything right that I can.