Cat eating her kittens !!!

My cat (I year old) gave birth to three kittens this morning. One of the kittens was born dead but the other two were okay. But the mother cat didn't clean or feed them but kept meowing and scratching the door. After we lifted her and put her next to the kittens a few times, she did feed and clean them. But them we left her and when we came back she had eaten one of the kittens!!!! We tried to calm her down but when she saw the last kitten she was also going to eat him if we hadn't stopped her!! 

  I read that cats could do that with the first litter if the mother was stressed and still young , but WHAT SHOULD I DO ? if I leave her with the kitten she will eat him and he can't survive without his mother!!

please help!!!!!

lyra377 said:

 

My cat (I year old) gave birth to three kittens this morning. One of the kittens was born dead but the other two were okay. But the mother cat didn't clean or feed them but kept meowing and scratching the door. After we lifted her and put her next to the kittens a few times, she did feed and clean them. But them we left her and when we came back she had eaten one of the kittens!!!! We tried to calm her down but when she saw the last kitten she was also going to eat him if we hadn't stopped her!! 

  I read that cats could do that with the first litter if the mother was stressed and still young , but WHAT SHOULD I DO ? if I leave her with the kitten she will eat him and he can't survive without his mother!!

please help!!!!!

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Separate them of course and head for the vet. The remaining kitten needs colostrum to survive. The vet can set you on a plan to either get the mother to accept the kitten , for you to hand raise or a rescue that can take the kitten if it is healthy.

If she is indeed killing her kittens than you have no choice but to separate her from the last one and feed it yourself. So get the following items

1. KMR or goats milk [Raw/full fat] (No Hartz or Sargeants). The resident experts a always seem to speak highly of PetAg.

2. A Heating pad for the kitten to keep him warm it needs to be on low and under a towel. A warm water bottle works too but also needs to be indirect to avoid burning the kitten

3. Some syringes and some bottles. It will not eat from a bottle initially at all so yo will need to feed it every two hours night and day. I cannot give exact instructions on this myself but I know one of the advisors will be here shortly. I think it was in the side of the mouth though. Tummy down just like feeding from mom. The syringe needs to small so you can control it easier.

You will also need to stimulate it to go potty as well.

I'd also take your cat to a vet to have her checked and make sure it's not something else going on.

I'm sorry to hear about the other two I'm sure an "expert" will be here soon. What I know/have written here is what I've learned from reading about their experiences.

From sarthur in another thread

"It is probably too weak to suck a bottle, so you would use a 1-2 mL needleless syringe to put 1 drop in the side of its mouth at a time. Let it swallow and breathe and give another drop. Feed the kitten tummy down, head up - like the other kittens feed from mom. A warm kitten digests milk better."

okay ill try (

I'm so sorry this is happening to you and the baby kittens. I had no idea this can happen I've heard of them eating ones, stillborn but never live ones. Good grief...stay brave!!!

You had already got some good advices.  I will attach some links.

As said, its fully possible by a human to raise an orphan, or supplement a weak kitten whom dont gets enough from mom.

Handraising a de facto orphan isnt easy, takes effort etc, but its not really difficult  knowing how.  True, a good mom is a safer bet, but if you dont have a good mom, so you dont. You must yourself do your best.  

Its a good idea to visit a vet - I guess its possible to give her some hormone which will stimulate her maternity feelings... Phone and ask beforehand perhaps - not all vets are good at this, and its no big idea to pay good money if the vet is clueless - perhaps expert on lizards or horses.

I understand you are sure there is no stressing moments?  As said, moms in high stress may turn onto her kittens "losing head" in panic

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/hand-rearing-kittens

http://www.kitten-rescue.com/
http://www.kittenrescue.org/index.php/cat-care/kitten-care-handbook/
 

Goats milk is useful instead of kmr. Raw goat milk is best – fresh or frozen,  but bottled /cartooned or  powdered full fat is OK too.

Observe, if an orphan is much bloated, gas-filled, bloated, have colic, simethicone (google on it) may help.  1-2 drop in the bottle.

Fleece or flannel good to use in the bedding for kittens.

lyra377 said:

 

My cat (I year old) gave birth to three kittens this morning. One of the kittens was born dead but the other two were okay. But the mother cat didn't clean or feed them but kept meowing and scratching the door. After we lifted her and put her next to the kittens a few times, she did feed and clean them. But them we left her and when we came back she had eaten one of the kittens!!!! We tried to calm her down but when she saw the last kitten she was also going to eat him if we hadn't stopped her!! 

  I read that cats could do that with the first litter if the mother was stressed and still young , but WHAT SHOULD I DO ? if I leave her with the kitten she will eat him and he can't survive without his mother!!

please help!!!!!

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How is it going today?

Thank you guys )) I couldn't have done it without you 

Its much better now, I think the mother (luna) was freaking out because it was her first litter and she didn't know what she was supposed to do.. But we gave the both of them extra care and kept trying to let her feed the kitten (while keeping an eye on her in case anything happens) and she got used to him )

She actually looks after him now, like the mommy part in her appeared.

So thanks again for you help and support !!

Oh good!!!

Can we get pics of Mama and Baby?

I can't give you any information, only support. I had a cat that ate all her kittens. Her last litter she only had one and I watched her intently. She kept that one until it was two weeks old and I took it away and had it separated from her. Some how she got the kitten and when I got home from work she had eaten that one too. I never understood why she would do this. I didn't have the money to take her to the vet to be spayed so I surrendered her to them to be spayed and rehomed.

She only had usually two kittens and after the third litter of the one, I couldn't deal with it. She wasn't a young cat but wasn't extremely old either. She was 2 or 3 when she had her first litter and 5 when I surrendered her.

Oh, I have never heard of cats eating their kittens, especially live ones.
How truly sad!
Glad Mama and baby are doing well now.
Yes, pictures please!!

I can't understand in what way they eat a kitten.

I heard that cats can eat their kittens if they are sick, or if there isn't enough milk, or​ if she was young and just had her first litter (luna's case) she also could go nuts and eat her kittens. Some cats could have genetic diseases which make them eat all their litters( I'm still a new here so I might not be right). But I'm really sorry for you and your kittens(RIP), I know how shocking and sad it is. Stay strong though!!

And thank you for your support !!

kntrygrl256 said:

 
I can't give you any information, only support. I had a cat that ate all her kittens. Her last litter she only had one and I watched her intently. She kept that one until it was two weeks old and I took it away and had it separated from her. Some how she got the kitten and when I got home from work she had eaten that one too. I never understood why she would do this. I didn't have the money to take her to the vet to be spayed so I surrendered her to them to be spayed and rehomed.

She only had usually two kittens and after the third litter of the one, I couldn't deal with it. She wasn't a young cat but wasn't extremely old either. She was 2 or 3 when she had her first litter and 5 when I surrendered her.

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This is something I don't understand and can't imagine. Isn't the baby too big for her to eat?

Stewball said:

This is something I don't understand and can't imagine. Isn't the baby too big for her to eat?

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They don't swallow it whole like a snake. I imagine they eat it the same way they'd eat a mouse?

Yes, and I've seen Mingo eat a couple of mice. He starts with the head, just chomps it off and swallows, and then goes down the body. At one point, just the feet were hanging out. He ate those, and the tail, too. There was nothing left. The amazing thing is there was no blood - not a spot anywhere. I imagine a kitten could be eaten the same way. Newborns aren't much bigger than a mouse.

I wonder if the queen in that thread didn't confuse the placenta and the kitten. Ate the placenta, then kept going.

I Might Have To Surrender My Cat An Keep A Couple Kittens Just To Help Save Them . Otherwise She Is such a Loveable Cat In All. I'm So Sad J Just Wish She Didn't Try To Eat Em

You just need to keep her out of the room with the kittens. Do you have a relative who can keep your cat for you for now? If you need help with the kittens, you could call a rescue organization, but the shelters are full now because it's kitten season. They are overrun, and many get put to sleep. I hate to see that happen. How are the kittens doing now?