Litter of kittens missing in our home!?

Question

My mother just saw the out three 5 week old kittens an hour ago. We keep them in our laundry room with the mother cat. Suddenly, they are no where to be found and the mother does not seem concerned and is acting as normal. My mother and I have looked everywhere and we are scared that they may be dead. They are old enough to repsond to us but we have heard nothing. I've been trying to find them, crying etc. I know sometimes they hide their litters but why can't we hear them mewing??! Why would a mother cat kill 5 week old kittens! :( PLEASE HELP!

Answer 1

If the mother isn't concerned there's a good chance she's hidden them somewhere where you can't find them. It's extremely unusual for a mother cat to kill her kittens. It's too early to worry yet. Watch Mummy see where she goes and you'll probably find them.

Answer 2

Cats are Houdinis when it comes to disappearing acts right under your nose. Chances are mama cat has just moved the litter to some obscure corner of the room. Make sure that there is no way cat or kittens could possibly have gotten into the washer or dryer, or gotten outside through the dryer vent.

An hour is not much time, kittens can easily "crash out" after a good meal and sleep soundly for an hour or longer.

I've never heard of a mother cat killing 5 week old kittens, the only cat I ever knew of who was a kitten killer, killed her kittens as soon as they were born (her sister, who didn't kill kittens, never had a kitten live to weaning either so I always wondered if there were some genetic factors involved).

Watch and try to see where the mother cat is going to, because she should be making regular trips to the kittens. Also, check her breasts. If the kittens aren't suckling, her breasts will be getting swollen and hard with milk that isn't being sucked out, and her nipples will be dry.
The nipples and area right around the nipples of a cat who has recently nursed kittens, will usually be damp and the fur around the breast will be in disarray.

As for the kittens not mewing, it may be just that they are behaving like all cats behave at the worst times. Right when you're worried or scared to death something is wrong, that's the time a cat or kitten will choose to become invisible and silent, as you go all over the house madly trying to locate the cat. Often you'll walk within a few feet of the cat or kitten, as the feline fugitive silently watches you and refuses to reveal her presence.

Answer 3

Yeah, the mother kitten does hide her litters. I've had a few cats do that to me. Mother cats do sometimes eat small kittens, but 5 weeks old is a bit old. Obviously, she knows that they will survive. Don't worry too much, they hide those kittens really good. I had a cat do that in out basement and then the mother was gone. We found out a neighbor took her about 5 days later and frantically looked for the babies. It took us a long time to find them, it was painful. They lived for about 2 weeks later and all died but one of them. We still have her to this day. Good luck with the kittens! Kittens are so damn cute.

Answer 4

All good answers above. Sometimes mama cats know that you're onto them & will lead you on a wild goose chase. Get a jingly ball or bell & walk around the house shaking it. If that doesn't get the kittens to come out (or at least make noise so you can hear where they are), try walking around the house with a can of wet cat food. Peel the lid off slowly, making lots of noise. Use a spoon & constantly stir it as you're walking around the house. Cats love the sound - and the smell & should come out of hiding.

Good luck!

Answer 5

theres a good chance the mother has just taken them somewhere, just keep an eye on her and watch where she goes, she will have to go to them to feed them anyway so chances are if you just watch her she will lead you to them.

My cat had kittens about 10 weeks ago and she was always picking them up and moving them , i have a 3 year old so if it was too noisy for her she would just pick them up and hide either behind the fridge or behind a sofa.

Mother cats are quite maternal they dont often kill thier kittens, but if she does bring them back out again dont touch them too much incase she gets a bit ratty about it.
You gotta remember at 5 weeks old they are still very tiny and arent that loud, if they respond to toys shake them about the house so that they can hear them and maybe they will come out, or shake the cat buscuit box that might bring them out.

Good luck, i hope you find them, i would love to know if you do so please can you mail me and let me know? my addy is in my profile. thanks loads
saera x

Answer 6

its been over an hour,have u found them yet? sometimes if u put down a peice of meat,eg;chop,the mother wil take it to feed her young as she wil start to ween them off her,that varies tho,have u started weening and worming the kittens,ready to go to new homes.also cats can come back into season very soon after this litter,or during latter of these kittys now,varies on breed or male cats around too.they will b alright,keep doors and windows closed and hold off on a feed,u will see her come+go,if she moved them outside underhouse,she wil try get out..they wont cry if they are warm and fed anyway...goodluck

Answer 7

The mother cat most likely did not kill them. I agree that they are hiding. They may be sleeping somewhere. They will come out when they are ready. dont worry to much. you may think they are old enough to respond but maybe they arent. do they Know their names yet?

Answer 8

I had the comparable subject. My kitten could use his field merely super in our room. after a week i enable him out into our abode with our different cat. once I did this my different male cat used his field and the kitten wouldnt pass in the clutter field after that. I had to get a clean field and save him in a diverse area of the abode for him to apply the litterbox

Answer 9

I agree. I bet the mother cat hid them somewhere.

Answer 10

the mother probebly wanted to get the kitttens away from u beause to protect them