If the death appears to be unexpected and the health of the remaining kittens is at risk, immediate measures must be taken to ensure their safety and well-being. Credit: Marketa Barborikova, Shutterstock After a mother cat ultimately gives up on the kitten ever breathing, she is prone to do a couple of things that might seem dramatic. When there are no live kittens she can pay attention to, you can try offering hersmall stuffed toysthat resemble a kitten in size and form. Chances are their bodies are covered with harmful bacteria and should be immediately removed from the litter. and sometimes, even if she does ? If kittens are born very prematurely, it could result in a stillbirth. In the wild, if a kitten does not survive the birth, their body can attract predators. When asking Should I remove a dead kitten from the litter?, this is one of the reasons most cat owners have to act fast. Cats are capable of producing several litters of kittens over the course of their lifetime, and it is rare for one of these litters to result in only one kitten. Then use some soft cloths or blankets as a barrier between your hands and the kitten, if necessary. If you have a question about your pet's health, please contact your veterinarian. Using disposable gloves place the dead kitten (along with the placenta) inside a freezer bag that can be sealed. If they have access to a garden its likely thats the burial area they are going to choose. There is no reason for the dead kitten to be eaten as long as you are taking action.2. If the cat is showing signs of distress, it is important to take her to the veterinarian for a check-up and to rule out any underlying health issues. This is a major reason why keeping the kitten with the mother cat is smart. Sit on the sofa and have some quiet time together. There is no right or wrong decision when it comes to removing a stillborn kitten, it is simply a choice that the family has to make based on their individual circumstances. Kittens need to eat kitten food and milk to grow properly. Unfortunately, situations happen when all the happiness is replaced with disappointment and sadness. Once the mourning process has passed, which can take a few days, she may start to accept that their kittens are gone. Most kittens will begin to develop strength between the months of 4 and 12 weeks making it important for them to stay with their mom. DecompositionThe main reason to remove a dead kitten from the litter has to do with decomposition.A lifeless kitten is going to naturally decompose. However, do make sure the mother cat knows her kitten has passed away or she will continue to look for it. While she shows this type of behavior, its best if you let her finish with the whole ceremony. The first reason has to do with survival for her and the rest of the kittens. Licking the kittens stimulates breathing, helps to remove any remaining placenta and helps to remove liquid from the kittens lungs. The first reason has to do with survival for her and the rest of the kittens. No pre. Do cats get sad when they lose their kittens? The general rule for burial is to put the body at least 4-5 feet (1-1.5 meters) deep in the ground. Mother cats are generally aware of when their offspring are about to be born and they will instinctively know that the smell of a decaying cat could be harmful to their young. They also feel a pinch and react in a way.A kittens death may occur before even being born or just lives for a short time.The mother cat tends to react in a way to respond to the sad occurrence.Just like human mothers are protective of their children, even cats are generally protective, and such a loss traumatizes them.Their protective instinct usually is strong. This is why they tend to be defensive if you try to get close to their kittens due to fear of losing them.This is what prompts them to have different reactions when the kitten dies.Thats why when a mother cat is about to give birth; it finds a haven to deliver babies in.They rarely allow humans or any other animals to come near. By eating the newborn, a mother cat will . A study of pedigree cats found that approximately 7% of kittens born were stillborn. Its also essential to give your cat time and space before attempting to remove the deceased kitten, as cats can become aggressive if they feel threatened or disrespected during this difficult time. Should you take a dead kitten away from mother? Be more affectionate. Also Read:Why Does My Kitten Attack My Face? How To Teach A Kitten To Drink From A Bowl. The instincts for mother cats dont only apply to taking care of their live kittens. In the wild, a mother cat would relocate its litter and/or eat the dead kitten. If a cat does miscarry only one kitten, it is likely due to a medical condition or problem with the pregnancy that prevented the kitten from developing properly. Sometimes, a stillborn kitten will disrupt labor, resulting in dystocia. The mother cat might bring her dead kitten to you, signaling that she needs your help. Read on to learn about the macabre, weird, instinctive, and otherwise normal things you might expect to see if your cat gives birth and a kitten dies or is stillborn.Buries Or Hides ItA mother cat who experiences the loss of a kitten through kitten fading or stillbirth will often bury or hide the dead kittens body. The good news is that eventually, all of them manage to come around. However, due to the nature of bacterial infections, its difficult to pinpoint which bacteria cause stillbirths. Make a point of petting your cat more often. Having a dead kitten in the litter may make the mother kill her other kittens. Step 1: Grasp the kitten with a clean towel. As harrowing as it might seem, it is important that you leave the kitten with the mother so that she is aware of what has happened. Its the right decision for everyone involved. If you must remove the kitten for any reason, do so gently and with care. Inadequate nutrition of both the mother and the kittens can be fatal for the whole litter. How to remove a dead kitten from its mother? This treatment is necessary, so dont take your kittens away from their mother, even if it looks painful. If the kitten is still warm, you can put it in a warm area, like the litter box. Giving the mother enough time to grieve on her own is the best thing you can do to comfort a mother cat who lost her kittens. It might be a sad sight to see, but even when a kitten is dead, the mother cat will continue to groom them. Dead kittens stuck inside a cat can be either taken out manually by a skilled vet or the babies will need to be surgically delivered. Some people may believe this to be true because they have seen their cats eating the remains of a dead kitten, but this could simply be evidence of scavenging behaviour. This is a reality of life, which is why it is important to properly dispose of a deceased animals body as soon as possible after it happens. At other times, the dead kitten will be delivered normally. The reason that a mother cat will eat the kitten is twofold. Are Slug Pellets Dangerous For Cats? If the kitten is cold, you can put it in a cardboard box or a plastic bag. Without access to their mothers milk, kittens are susceptible to dehydration and hypothermia, both of which can be fatal. If she doesnt have live kittens ? Im going to explain what steps to take and how to make the most of this uncomfortable situation. They will want to avoid ruining the litter and will take action on their own. Causes and TreatmentsContinue, The topic of homosexuality in animals, particularly in dogs and cats, has been a subject of curiosity and controversy for many years. If your cat goes for 2 or 3 hours between kittens without giving birth or has strong contractions for 20 minutes without giving birth, contact your vet. Otherwise, decomposition can harm the other kittens leading to multiple deaths or illness. But dont be surprised if she hasnt given up on them reviving and gets angry and aggressive toward you while you try to take the body away. Once your cat goes into labor (known as queening), she should give birth in intervals between 10 minutes and an hour. Eating a dead or unviable kitten can recycle essential nutrients that can be put to good use raising the remaining kittens.Domestic cats eating stillborn kittens and occasionally a runt of the litter cat is not unheard of. Your cat may not want you to take the kitten they may growl and become protective the best bet in these . Communal cremation chambers mean that the pet is cremated at the same time as other animals so you cant get any ashes back. However, the single kitten syndrome is a very rare occasion indeed. PleaseComfortable Outdoor Harness: This real comfy cat harness will snugly fit your feline friends body, while still keeping himEscape Proof Cat Harness: This adjustable kitty harness features 4 adjusting straps which allow a just-right fit for yourLast update on 2022-09-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API1. What To Do With A Dead Kitten After Birth Everything You Need To Know. Before proceeding with removal, its important to take the necessary precautions and create a safe environment. She might bury it, or if she has quite a few live kittens left, she will take it away from them and abandon it. Sometimes they do reject one, a runt or a weak one. Cats typically eat meat, so it is possible that they are eating the remains of the kitten because it is a source of nutrients. If she is unable to find her kitten, she may become agitated and obsessively groom herself or the remaining kittens. By eating the newborn, a mother cat will re-absorb the nutrients that her body had first used to generate the kitten. A dead kitten will decompose and potentially cause infection in the other kittens or the mother cat. As bad it may seem to leave the dead kittens lying on the floor or the bedding you simply will need to for the sake of the grieving mother. Required fields are marked *. If the kitten is still warm, you can try to take it out with your hands. It is not unheard of for kittens to fade or be stillborn. So it's important to remove a dead kitten from the litter as soon as you notice it. The process might go on for quite a while before she starts to focus more on the live kittens again. Cats are usually pregnant for 58 to 67 days, and kittens born weeks early could struggle to survive. Yes, eating their dead kittens is a normal behavior. Like humans bury their dead, dead kittens can also be buried deep in the ground. Yes, you should remove a dead kitten from a litter. Otherwise, decomposition can harm the other kittens leading to multiple deaths or illness. In the wild, a mother cat will either consume the dead kitten and/or relocate its litter to help prevent illness with the other kittens. Others will just stuff the dead baby deep in the bedding or push it outside. By consuming the dead kitten, the mother will actually provide a better chance of survival for the others. Buy her favorite treat or food for her as a special pick-me-up. Some possible reasons are as follows: 1) The cat may have been feeling abandoned or insecure, and as a result, she may have consumed her kittens as a way of trying to take care of them. 3) The cat may have been feeling aggressive or territorial, and as a result, she may have consumed her kittens as a way of asserting her dominance over them. However, in colder climates, this process may take months or even years to complete. Kittens can be resuscitated if they have a pulse and breathing, but the prognosis is usually poor. Some things you should not say after the loss of a pet: Dont cry. Crying is part of the grieving process for many people. When a kitten is born dead or isn't strong enough to survive the first several days outside of the womb, a mother cat knows what to do. Understand and connect with your cat and develop a lifelong friendship! If the kitten is cold, you can try to take it out with a blanket or a towel. 3. That means she will often leave the body alone for hours, just in case the kitten revives. Answer (1 of 34): Make sure it remains near the mother until she is aware that it is dead. But for some mother cats who have other kittens to attend to, they will simply remove the dead kitten and abandon it. If possible, try to keep the area where the kitten was found or passed away from her sight. Children will need a clear explanation to help them make sense of whats happened. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Welcome toMeowFluent! You cant keep an eye on the mother all of the time, but if its her first litter try to minimize the incidence of traumatic injuries to the kittens. Telling someone to get over such a loss comes across mean and thoughtless. Natural deaths are usually sudden but can take days in some cases. Preparing for Removal of the Deceased Kitten, 5. This website provides general information about pets and their care. Allow her to grieve by providing her with a safe and secure space. What Do Mother Cats Do With Dead Kittens? Bury the kitten into the ground Sometimes a mother cat will dig the ground where it will bury its dead kitten. If there is none, continue performing chest compressions while gently blowing air into the kittens lungs until it starts breathing on its own again. There are specific actions that a mother cat can do as a way of grieving.It is painful to lose a close one, and thats the same for cats. 3. It may do it for quite some time until it gives up and abandons the kitten to take care of the surviving ones. Even though cats have been domesticated for many years, they are still animals with many instincts. In this case, a mother cat may move one kitten before returning to her nest to collect the others. They may also spend a lot of time sleeping or grooming themselves. Any of a number of things could cause one or more kittens to be stillborn or to perish soon after birth. You should also take the best possible care of your cat during pregnancy. Should you let pet see dead pet? Cover the kittens nose and mouth with your mouth and blow softly until you see the chest rise. Should I remove stillborn kitten? Step 2: Applying steady traction, gently pull the kitten at a slight downward angle. The mother cat isnt going to grieve over the dead kitten. If a kitten dies from a congenital deformation in utero early in the pregnancy, the queen may absorb the kitten, or she may suffer a miscarriage. 1.Should I Remove A Dead Kitten From The Litter? If you have a cat with a litter and a kitten, particularly a smaller kitten, goes missing the chances are quite high that the mother has eaten the kitten.Gives It To Cat GuardianA mother cat wont always bury, hide, or eat a dead kitten. Lay the kitten on its right side, with its head slightly lower than its body. Its very unsafe for the mother to consume their dead kittens so its advisable for the owner to remove it from the side before she starts biting it. Dead kittens should be removed from a litter of kittens as soon as possible after they are found dead. They would feel so bad if they found another animal feasting on their kittens remains.Also, in the case of stillbirth, the mother cat will feast on the kitten as it helps provide nutrients.This will then be dissolved in milk that the other kittens will benefit from.Individual cats will just eat one kitten, while some will eat the whole litter.Also, in other cases, the mother cat eats their kitten due to congenital disabilities, feeling sorry for the kitten, external threats, and malnourishment.Mother cats love their young ones and wouldnt want to see them suffer.The next time you see your cat eating its dead kitten, dont question the action. However, dont misjudge that occurrence; it is an act of affection.They eat their dead kittens after a while to protect the body from being eaten by any other animal.This is another form of being protective of their kittens. What is a newborn kitten survival rate without mother? Final Words on Should I Remove a Dead Kitten from Its Mother, Why Does My Cat Keep Bringing Me Her Kittens? Licks The KittenWhen the mother cat realizes that the kitten is not moving, they tend to lick the kitten furiously. Bacterial infections can also cause stillborn kittens. If the decomposing body remains in the home of its dead owner, the dead body will pollute the air and contaminate the food in the room. In some cases, the mother may still care for and even nurse her dead kitten which can be a natural part of her healing process. If the cat has already given birth, the dead kitten may need to be removed. Start by gently lifting the kitten away from the mother, taking care not to cause her any pain or distress. During this time, they may become depressed, withdrawn, and eat little or no food. They dont want anything else to smell the kittens body and come to eat it. If the kitten is still warm, you can put it in a cardboard box or a plastic bag. One way is to bury the kitten in a shallow grave. Some female cats may attempt to bury or hide their dead kittens. Removing a dead kitten after birth too fast can leave her agitated and she may even try to bite you when attempting to move the body. Do Cats Mourn The Death Of Their Kittens? Sometimes the virus can infect unborn kittens in the uterus also and cause miscarriages and stillbirths. Cats experience grief in somewhat similar but simpler ways as humans. Stillborn kittens and death in kittens shortly after birth is not uncommon in cats. The main reason to remove a dead kitten from the litter has to do with decomposition. Their behavior toward that kitten might surprise you. By removing the deceased kitten, the responsible owner has prevented a cannibalistic attack from taking place on her kittens.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'21cats_org-leader-1','ezslot_7',114,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-21cats_org-leader-1-0'); A mother cat in the wild will either ingest the body of her deceased littermate or leave it alone to decompose naturally. The box should be twice as long as an adult cat and wide as the cat is long. Well, as in the case of burying or hiding, by eating the remains they are looking to reduce the chances of infection in the other kittens and instinctively reduce the odds of identification and exposure to predators in the area. The kitten can be placed in a small box or container, and then buried in the ground. Dead kittens can be a big problem in any litter, but they are especially trouble in groups of cats because they can spread bacteria and viruses to other kittens. Additionally, other kittens in the litter may become sick if they come into contact with the dead kitten. In the wild, reducing odor is important as scavenging predators in the area may be attracted to the litter by the smell of decomposition, putting the whole litter at risk.Burying the remains also means the mother cat and kittens do not necessarily have to vacate a prey rich territory for fear that odor may identify their position and highlight the richness of the territory.Hiding the remains without burying also occurs in the wild from time to time. A dead kitten should not be removed from the litter. What To Do With A Dead Kitten After Birth? Causes and Treatments. This is why you will want to act as soon as you can! However, sometimes its necessary. No, you should not remove a dead kitten from the litter. Let your child know it is normal to miss pets after they die and encourage the youngster to come to you with questions or for reassurance and comfort. There are several good reasons for the mother cat to act in this way.Burying the body is an effective way to reduce the risk of infection and disease spreading to the other kittens in the litter from living within close proximity to the decomposing litter mates body. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[468,60],'21cats_org-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_2',106,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-21cats_org-large-mobile-banner-1-0');It will also prevent bacteria from entering the environment through the pores of the decomposing body, thus preventing the possible spread of disease to other animals and people. The survival rate of abandoned kittens without their mothers is low. If the kitten is not removed, the mother cat may become anxious and stop caring for the rest of her kittens. Kittens get Feline Viral Herpesvirus when they pass through the birth canal and after infection remain weak and fail to thrive, eventually dying. Read on to learn more about potential causes, prevention, and what to do if your cat gives birth to a stillborn kitten.Possible causes of stillborn kittensIf this is your cats first litter and youre worried about the possibility of complications, you can notify your vet before your cat goes into labor so they can be on stand-by. This is something they are genetically trained to do and that is what their actions would show in the wild. In the meantime, while you protect the dam, you have to think about the other living kittens (if there are any) and the spread of infectious diseases. This action is to check whether the kitten is alive or not.You will also note that the mother cat will smell the cat to see if there is any movement.When the cat is still alive, the mother cat often licks the kitten to groom their skin and fun.It is also a form of showing affection. A lifeless kitten becomes a breeding ground for bacteria when it is left inside the home of its mother. There is, however, no studies to suggest that this aids the grieving process in your cat. Never touch a dead kitten after birth with bare handsbecause there is a high risk of getting an infection and spreading it. Should I remove a dead kitten from the litter?. Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a severe viral infection that can be passed from mother to kitten in utero, resulting in a stillbirth. Hypothermia is also a common cause of death since kittens cant maintain their body temperature too well. It is an instinctual behavior for her to do right after giving birth. Copy. However, removal is not as simple as it sounds; if not done properly, it could lead to even more problems for the mother and remaining babies in the nest. Table of Contents [ show] What do you do with a dead baby cat? In a way, this act is similar. Wrap the kitten in a towel or blanket and add a heat source. What Are The Benefits Of Eating Bananas By Goats, The Pros And Cons Of Purchasing A Puppy Less Than 100 Dollars. If she doesnt have live kittens and sometimes, even if she does her grieving process might be burying her kitten and lying over the burial spot for hours. The length of time a mother cat remembers her kittens depends on their communal or familial status. The question is more about the timing. This is essential to prevent cannibalism from occurring in her brood. 9. When a kitten is born dead or isnt strong enough to survive the first several days outside of the womb, a mother cat knows what to do. After you make peace with the passing of the dead kitty, wrap her entire body in a towel. Helping the Mother Cat Deal with Loss and Grief. They say its best to let nature take its course and allow the mother cat to experience the necessary stages of grief. Kittens should not be given litter products that contain fragrances, harsh chemicals, or clumping properties. Congenital abnormalities arise due to problems in early development and malformation of genes. Keep the information you give simple and truthful, and use words they can understand. If they are born dead or die soon after birth, you wont see her give up on them too quickly. Also known as distemper, this virus can result in an abnormality of the skull known as cerebellar hypoplasia. Most people think that its wrong to remove a dead kitten from a litter of kittens. In love with cats, their behavior and psychology. her grieving process might be burying her kitten and lying over the burial spot for hours. 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