My cat moved a kitten. Is it sick? Can it survive away from the litter?

Cats commonly want to pick up their kittens and move them to "safety". My guess is that, left unattended, she would move all of them one at a time. Consider moving her basket/box to a more secluded area (under a coffee table, in a small closet, etc). This might appease her concern for her kittens. As for the eye goop, keep an eye on this. If you need to, gently wipe it with a warm damp cloth on a daily basis. This could be nothing or it could be an early viral infection. If you see snotty noses, reluctance to eat, or any other concerning signs, see the vet. You can start mom on a lysine supplement (we think this helps interrupt replication of the feline herpes virus.) And don't worry, human cold viruses do not transfer to people (and vice versa). Hope this helps and best of luck to you and the kitty family!

There are a few possibilities: One, she is a new mother and is feeling a bit overwhelmed or doesn't know what to do with an entire litter, so she is just trying to move a single kitten with her. Two, there may be something wrong with the other kittens such as a deformity, etc, as some cats will try to push away or stop caring for these kittens if they sense something is wrong. Three, she will eventually move ALL the kittens, she is just trying to find a place that she feels safe and comfortable in before she does so. Making sure she has a nice cozy and private place to house her kittens may help her feel more comfortable. You may also need to start helping out and supplementing feeding for any kittens she is pushing away or is having trouble nursing. If any kitten or momma cat seems ill or aren't thriving, bringing them into your vet for an exam to rule out any illness or genetic issues is best.

Hi, thanks for using Petcoach! I am sorry that you are going through this! It is common for mother cats to move their kittens, especially if stressed and they feel that their kittens are at risk. I wold try to leave her be and try not to stress her. You can check on the babies once-twice a day. Her laying on them is some what normal. Unfortunately there is no way for me to tell based on the picture if the kitten will survive. Sadly some kittens don't make it and we don't know why. It is called "fading kitten syndrome." If Tinkiee left him/her behind she may know it is sick. You can try to hand raise the kitten by bottle feeding it with Kitten Mild Replacer (KMR). You have to bottle feed it every 3 hours and stimulate it to urinate and defecate by gently wiping it's anus and genitals with warm wash cloth after feedings. Below is a link to the milk replacer. It is also sold in pet stores or at Veterinary hospitals. https://www.chewy.com/petag-kmr-kitten-milk-replacer/dp/125389?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=f&utm_content=PetAg&utm_term=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1b-Q66bt1QIVRDaBCh1xgwYyEAQYASABEgIBmPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds I wish you the best of luck!

This is a very concerning finding, if the mother is actively taking the kitten away from the others she may feel this kitten is unwell and may be putting the other kittens at risk. I wold recommend a vet check for the kitten and mother to rule out any signs of infection and it may be worthwhile trying to bottle feed the kitten if rejected by the mother but success rate is quite poor if the kitten is unwell

A natural instinct of mother cats is to hide their kittens to protect them. They will keep their kittens in the safest spot they can find. If she was afraid they might be in any danger, that is likely why she moved them. She will know where that 3rd kitten is hiding. The kittens are 4 weeks old, and will start moving around more and more. Hopefully, the 3rd one should start showing up soon. Try not to disturb her too much in your search, she might become upset if her area becomes "too busy" and may move them again.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If mother cats feel threatened or nervous they will frequently move the kittens to other locations. Be sure she is in a quiet place with no children or other animals. Only check on her a few times per day. Mother cats also will move only one baby if they feel it is sick or not doing well. If you can post a picture of the wound I can help you better. If it is small then the kitten should be fine. Clean it will water and a mild soap daily. If you are concerned about the wound have a vet examine the kitten before the weekend. I wish you all the best!

Some kittens get weak and cold which can become life threatening. You can carry the kitten in your pocket to keep it warm and hold it onto the mother to nurse if possible. In addition the kitten may have been born with a medical problem and is not going to survive. Make sure the others are warm and nursing. Some new mothers are not as good at taking care of kittens as others, especially that many. That is a big litter so you may need to supplement the kittens with kitten milk replacer if the mother doesn’t have enough milk for all of them. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for your kitten.