Dead Kittens (vanity)

March 30, 2006 | pbrown

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Last night I went out to have a smoke and just as I was about to step out the door, I looked down and there was a dead baby kitten on our mat. The mama cat is wild and has never let us anywhere near her. A couple of hours later my hubby went to take out the trash and there was another dead kitten in the same place. He buried them out in the field. I just went outside for a smoke, and there is another one, that makes three.

My question is, since the mama cat is wild, why would she keep bringing her dead babies and putting them on our doorstep? Is that normal for cats?

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I apologize for the vanity. Normal reaction for a wild cat? (domestic)

[sarasota]

Mother cats often bring their dead kittens to householders. I don't know why....

[evets]

Bush's fault.

[4CJ]

Are you sure it was the mother bringing them?

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Thank you. It is so sad. She stays near them till we open the door thens she runs away.

[i_dont_chat]

The mama cat doesn't know what to do with her dead babies.

[hispanarepublicana]

My guess? Every time you smoke, God kills a kitten.
(Sorry; it's a takeoff of another saying, and I couldn't resist.)

[Lx]

I've heard of this happening before. You might end up with some live kittens too.

Too bad. This kind of thing breaks my heart. We had a kitten show up on our doorstep that had just opened its eyes. I looked all around and could not find the mother or other kittens. He was lucky that we just came home from lunch when I heard him crying and picked him up. He's turned into a great cat.

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Pretty sure. We've looked all over for her litter and can't find them.

[orionblamblam]

Mother cats can be clearly seen to actually *care* (emotionally) for their kittens, and will fight to the death to protect them, and will risk death to save them - anybody remember "Scarlet" the fire-cat?

Why this mom-cat would bring her dead kittens to your door... hard to tell. Possibly she thinks that you might be able to bring them back.

Wow. Just realized what a heartbreaking thought *that* is.

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That is so heartbreaking. Their little tiny bodies. My hubby put his hand over the kittens nose last night and tried to give it air. The body was still warm and soft. It didn't help.

[4CJ]

Maybe she thinks that you can revive them.

[null and void]

The mama cat doesn't know what to do with her dead babies.

She thinks you're God and can bring them back to life?

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Lol. You are so...

My eyes were tearing, then I read your post. Made me chuckle.

[sinkspur]

I apologize for the vanity. Normal reaction for a wild cat? (domestic)

Normal reaction for a cat to bring things to "their people". I would guess this is still true for feral cats.

Sounds like the kittens had rhinotracheitis or feline distemper. Both are highly contagious and always fatal to kittens. When one kitten is affected, all are usually affected.

[4CJ]

My hubby put his hand over the kittens nose last night and tried to give it air. The body was still warm and soft. It didn't help.

We've tried that with hampsters and dogs. It's always sad.

[null and void]

GMTA. Yeah. Heartbreaking is a good word.

[null and void]

I had success with a newborn puppy. That was good!

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You might end up with some live kittens too.

We don't know where else to look for the litter. I wish we could find it and check to see if they are ok.

[Proud2BeRight]

It may be sad but if the mother is wild, it is better that it's offspring do not grow up wild. They just become useless predators.