Cats Killing Kittens

I had 3 kittens that were killed last night by either a dog or a tom cat. One had its side ripped open. I couldn't look at the others that close. The had a little home on my front porch with sheets in it and the sheet was dragged into the yard make me believe it may have been a dog. I do however have 2 toms that to me never paid the kittens any attention but reading I find this to be normal.

My cat is due to have kittens any day now and the tom cat who got her pregnant has re-appeared...what can I do to keep him away? He has broken in to the cat flap before when it was locked.. (that's how my cat got pregnant) I'm worried he might kill the kittens or try to get her pregnant again..help!

You're probably going to have to syringe feed the kitten. If you get a syringe like is used for an injection a kitten can latch onto it like a nipple with a little practice. I used to make my own formula using evaporated milk, an egg yolk and a little Karo syrup. You'll have to take a warm rag and wipe the butt so the kitten will go to the bathroom.

You can also get kitten formula at the store but its very expensive. Hope this helps.

i brought in a stray female cat who was pregnant. she had her kittens last wensday may 25,2011. she had 6 all together. one of them died later that day. this morning i walked in and three more were dead. she has one left and i dont know what to do. i dont think this one is going to make it. kallie is a calico cat. i still dont understand why she kiled those kittens and neither does my fiances 11 year old daughter. she is very heartbroken by all of this.

Cats killing kittens or infanticide is a significant factor in the world of wildcats.

"Infanticide is a serious threat in many species of felids" (Wild Cats Of The World" page 414).

In a study five male caracals had the remains of caracal kittens in their stomachs, for example.

In domestic cats it is rare to observe infanticide. When it has happened it seems to involve the kittens of a solitary mother in contrast to a group of females cooperating in the care of kittens, which is thought to be a defense mechanism to prevent males killing the kittens.

When I think of cat infanticide I think of lions. When male lions takeover a pride the incoming males kill the small cubs and kick out the older young lions which induces the females to "come into etrus (heat)" and to mate. This way the incoming males can have offspring of their own. It is brutally logical and all about survival.

Killing kittens reduces the time it takes to produce new cubs.

Thanks for bringing up the subject, Elisa.

Oops!

I used to raise hairless rats. The male cares for the kittens. They sleep with him and the mother only steps in at feeding time. I never had a male rat kill any of the kittens

Hairless rats make good pets as they are very calm compared to regular rats. We used to take ours to the park on a leash so they could run around. Couldn't go on a hot sunny day as they would burn.

Yes I'm weird. LOL.

The people who say they want their cat to have "just one litter" for their children to learn about the miracle of birth should consider this article. I'm so glad the cat my mother allowed to "have just one litter" for my sister and I was a very good mom, and none of her kittens died. But as a parent, would you really want your children finding dead or headless kittens?

My parents find dead kittens now and then from the feral cat population in the woods next to their house. They usually attribute it to male cats, but once they thought it could be that a hawk dropped the kitten.

I asked the worker at a cat shelter near me if a kitten would be in danger in a house with male cats, but she said so long as they are neutered it's not an issue. It really only happens when they are trying to kill off the kittens of other males or get the female into heat again. She said usually a young cat is a good match with the existing male, because they seem to be protective of the small cat instead of competing with it for territory.

I think my husband is afraid to get another cat because Monty might hurt it, or they could fight and Monty would get hurt. I've told him about Elisa and Furby and all those rescues living together, but he is still concerned. I've never had two cats at the same time, and I did see one of those dead kittens in my parent's yard, so it does kind of concern me too. I don't want to rescue a young cat, and come home to find it dead or hurt.

In my youth I spent a lot of time at my grandparents farm. I would find kittens without heads periodically so i know it does happen. It's something you can never get use to and it is very upsetting every time.

On the other hand there was a tame mother that would let us move her kittens into this one room in the barn where she raised kittens every year. One tomcat was often found in there cuddling with the kittens, never without the mother present though i will add. There were never any missing kittens from her litters but she was a very careful mother.

I guess it comes down to instincts and the best thing you can do is keep male cats away from kittens as you don't know what primal urges are going to surface with kittens present. Also with mothers (new mothers, whether its just the first pregnancy you've see with that cat or a cats first litter) you really need to keep a close eye one them. We took in a pregnant cat from the alley and she must have been a new mom. she would sit on her newborn kittens and almost smother them. We are lucky we didn't end up with any dead kittens.