Why would a mother cat seperate one kitten from the litter?

hollyy.heart.attack: Why would a mother cat seperate one kitten from the litter?
She does this almost every day, leaving the kitten meowing until I go and collect it and put it back with the litter.
The kittens are less than two weeks old.
It’s not always the same kitten.
5 Kittens.
It’s actually a stray cat and I’m planning on taking her to the shelter as soon as possible.

Answers and Views:

Answer by plava_93
How many kittens does she have? She may feel that she can’t care for all of them.

When the kittens are older please spay her. It is best for her health.

Answer by punk_rawk_grrl
Have you taken these kittens to the vet? There may very well be something wrong with them. And why are you allowing your cat to breed when there’s so many homeless pets looking for homes? Are you aware that this one unspayed cat and her litter could turn into 420,000 cats in a seven year period? Please get this mother cat and her kittens spayed/neutered as soon as you can.

Answer by Shelby L
a lot of times they separate one because it has a birth defect or some other medical problem, its instinct because in the wild there is no point to feed a dying baby and the others need those nutrients. i would take the little guy to a vet.

Answer by mbrcatz17
Usually when a mother cat throws a kitten out of the nest, it’s an indication that there’s something wrong with the kitten, or it’s sick or some such.

Answer by ssgjwyf
mother cats will often separate a kitten they feel will not survive, or that has something wrong with it. Be SURE that it is not always the same kitten. If it is the same one more than twice, take THAT kitten to the shelter RIGHT NOW. A trained professional will be able to care for it or know of a place that will. I have found several litters of kittens around my house and on one or two occasions found a single “screaming” kitten under a bush. I find a kitty rescue place and tell them that I found it. Usually they will have a surrogate mom cat that will care for it, or they will feed it with a bottle and care for it themselves.

Answer by Kris
This usually means that this kitten has some health issue and will likely die. She does not want the baby to die near her other kittens and cause preditors to smell it and attack her or the other kittens. You should take this kitten to the vet or try to watch it very carefully. You will probably have to bottle feed it to try to keep it alive. I sure hope the kitten makes it though.

Answer by willow
she rejecting,maybe ill or runt she thinks will die

Answer by shyrocker95
There may be something wrong with the kitten inside that the mother knows it is not healthy. Mother cats and dogs can tell if one of the litter is sick or will not survive and they separate them from the healthy babies and don’t waste their time or energy nursing and bathing the sick one. Its the way of the animal kingdom.