What killed my kittens?

Question

My 2 kittens were killed last night. No signs of blood or body trama. The grill cover they were under was ripped not shredded. Also a baby gate was put up on the entrance of the deck to keep out dogs. We are located in Alabama so not sure if it could have been a Weasel.

Let me explain. I only put them outside on the breezeway while I was cooking and having dinner. I did not put them under the grill cover as some have thought. It was also after 5:00 when I put them out went back to get them at about 6:30 and they were dead. However, 1 of the 3 survived with no signs of injury. And yes they did have water. It isn't that hot on a breezeway in the afternoon we often sit out there ourselves (it also has a ceiling fan which was on). The only things on this breezeway is furniture (no plants) and I also put up the baby gate when they are outside to keep dogs out. I hope this clears up some misunderstandings.

Let me ellaborate more. It wasn't the heat that killed them because the grill cover had been pulled to the outside of the deck and ripped but not shredded. Also they didn't get stuck under the grill because the bottom of the cover is loose and they were not under the grill when found. Does anyone else have any idea what could have attacked them in only a matter of 2 hours and left no signs of blood or visable trama? Thanks.

Answer 1

Why the hell were they outside??? Yet another reason why cats need to be indoors only.

One decision every cat owner must make is whether or not their feline friend will be allowed outdoors. Many people feel that keeping their kitties indoors deprives them of a full life. However, one must consider that the average life span of a totally outdoor cat is about a year and a half, while a totally indoor cat is expected to live upwards of 15 years.

Aside from the obvious dangers of car fan belts and tires, toxic plants, dogs and cruel people, there are many hidden dangers to cats allowed outdoors. Life-threatening dangers include:

* Diseases for which we currently do not have vaccines for (Feline Aids),
or vaccines that are not reliably effective
(Feline Leukemia, Feline Infectious Peritonitis).

* Heartworm. Yes, it is true that a cat can get heartworm, through mosquito bites. Shorthairs are at higher risk than longhairs.

* Antifreeze. Its sweet taste is irresistible to cats, and a cat who has walked through a small pool of antifreeze and cleans its paws has ingested a fatal dose.

* Skin cancer. Light colored kitties (especially white) are at risk for skin cancer of the ears due to exposure to direct sunlight.

* Hanging/choking. Those neat little cat collars which do not provide breakaway or stretch releases have killed many a cat.

* Fighting among outdoor kitties not only spreads disease, it can result in painful abscesses which require medical attention (an untreated abscess can kill a cat). Unaltered tom cats are prime candidates for such fighting, not to mention they will impregnate any and all receptive females they come upon.

* Toxoplasmosis. A single celled organism that cats can ingest while eating prey that has been exposed. Not only can it kill a cat, it is contagious to people and can result in severe birth defects to human babies whose mothers are exposed during pregnancy. Wearing rubber gloves while handling litter pan duties and gardening is highly recommended for pregnant women. Finding another home for your cherished pet is NOT necessary.

As if that is not enough food for thought, consider our wildlife. Cats kill many songbirds each year, plus rabbits, squirrels, mice, chipmunks, reptiles, etc. Most areas are not overrun with these creatures, and cats are not performing a necessary service by killing them.

Being neat creatures, cats bury their feces. It's not a lot of fun to be digging in your garden and get a handful of that! Not to mention that kitty excrement is not an effective fertilizer, or that your neighbor will probably not see the humor of their gardens being dug up and destroyed...

Non-life threatening things outdoor cats are exposed to can serve to make our human lives miserable also. Fleas, ticks and mites would just as soon bite you as they would the family pet, and getting them out of your home is expensive and time-consuming. These parasites can also carry life-threatening diseases. Kitties who come inside with motor oil or used chewing gum on their bodies and sit on your antique sofas cause quite a stir, also. Ringworm is sometimes contracted by a cat while outdoors digging in the dirt; this fungus is very contagious to humans.

Cats do not observe property lines by any means. To them, a fence is something to climb on, not a barrier. Your neighbor may not have a problem shooting, trapping or poisoning your family pet.

There are so many obvious benefits to keeping your cat indoors. Indoor cats are no lazier or less happy than their outdoor counterparts. Provide a window perch for them, put out a bird feeder for entertainment. There are so many toys available for cats now, both the interactive kind (a stick with a string with something fun on the end), and the toys that do not require human intervention. Avoid toys which have small parts that can come off and cause choking or gastrointestinal problems. A paper grocery bag will provide hours of entertainment for your kitty. A scratching post of some kind is a necessity.

An indoor/outdoor cat can easily be made a totally indoor cat with perseverance on your part. They may resent their confinement for a short time, but they will adjust. Another option is a safe outdoor enclosure. It must be carefully constructed, as you need to keep other animals OUT, as well as your cat in. Screen porches work well, too, just be sure to give the kitty some way to get back into your house if they need to.

Many cats live their entire lives without ever setting foot on grass. The difference in their life expectancy as well as quality of life speaks for itself.

Answer 2

I feel so terrible sorry for you. More information is needed to help with answer. I once had a stray tom cat sneak into a back room and into a low stall to kill a kitten. I caught him as he left. He had grabbed it by neck, and through the punture wound sucked and licked up all the blood. The punture wound was vey small. The Vet says kitten was killed by the pessure on neck veins and absents of blood.

Answer 3

Cat's love to lay out in the sun. But they don't know when it's enough! Long exposure to sun and heat can cause cats to get aggressive, start throwing up and billion other things! With kittens it's even more dangerous. Exposure to heat and "breeze" can cause some serious problems, and even be fatal like in your case. Cats always choose to give birth in shady, warm and hidden places and this is where you should let the kittens be (after all - mother knows best) until they grow enough to start looking for their own lil spots. I hope this helped. Sorry for your loss

Answer 4

Its freakin hot as hell out there and you left kittens outside under a grill cover which was either black or blue so it absorbed even more heat. Cats are best kept inside so these kind of things don't happen. especially lil kittens. Exposed to the heat and humidity of Alabama its no freakin wonder they died. Did you leave water out there for them at least???

Answer 5

they may have already been sick some sicknesses that animals have are not detectable to the human eye if nothing was amiss i would think they were sick and died i would however keep an eye on the third kitten better yet take it to the vet tomorrow and have it checked out hopefully it won't have what the other two had i wish ya luck and very sorry for your loss.

Answer 6

Maybe it was the heat....how hot is it there exactly?...i leave my kittens in the yard and it's triple digits here (Los Angeles) It wouldn't have been another animal since there was no blood or trauma....if they were under something they could have suffocated.

Answer 7

mabey it was the weather
do they have any blood or wounds?

Answer 8

WHY DID YOU LEAVE THEM OUTSIDE!!!!
WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!