I'm not a cat person. Nothing against them at all, I'm just allergic and could never have one. So, I have a question. Why would a cat kill a kitten?

I'm not a cat person. Nothing against them at all, I'm just allergic and could never have one. So, I have a question. Why would a cat kill a kitten?
Mother cat or other?

I'm not a cat person. Nothing against them at all, I'm just allergic and could never have one. So, I have a question. Why would a cat kill a kitten?

How did the cat kill the kitten? Ages? And is the adult cat the kittens mother?

Male will kill kittens fathered by another male to enduce (sp)
the female back into heat to mate with her so that the offspring are HIS.

Kitten is sick, has a birth defect that only the mother can detect.

Kittens/litter is premature and will not survive.

Kitten born dead and mother "recycling" needed protein and other material.

Mother is very young, is inexperienced and killed "stranger" critter.

Those are the major 3 reasons a mother will kill her offspring.

The big cats, dogs, rodents, and most other mammals will do that.

How did the cat kill the kitten? Ages? And is the adult cat the kittens mother?

I'm not sure who killed it. It was killed because it's throat was torn open. Long story short, there has been 3 cats behind my place since last fall. They stay over in the tree line and had shelter in an empty shed in the place behind me (no one lives there). I thought one was pregnant because she was too fat for a stray. They always sit over by the trees right before dark everyday and I watch them. Today, I was out with the dog and saw the dead kitten, it was really small but not knowing much about cats I can't guess how young it was but it was tiny, maybe 5 or 6 inches long. When I was moving it was when I noticed it's throat was ripped open. I'm assuming another cat did it, it's not wooded here in town and I saw it this afternoon, I could tell it hadn't been dead that long. That's why I don't think something wild got it, I thought it had to be one of the cats. It made me curious why they do this.

I'm not sure who killed it. It was killed because it's throat was torn open. Long story short, there has been 3 cats behind my place since last fall. They stay over in the tree line and had shelter in an empty shed in the place behind me (no one lives there). I thought one was pregnant because she was too fat for a stray. They always sit over by the trees right before dark everyday and I watch them. Today, I was out with the dog and saw the dead kitten, it was really small but not knowing much about cats I can't guess how young it was but it was tiny, maybe 5 or 6 inches long. When I was moving it was when I noticed it's throat was ripped open. I'm assuming another cat did it, it's not wooded here in town and I saw it this afternoon, I could tell it hadn't been dead that long. That's why I don't think something wild got it, I thought it had to be one of the cats. It made me curious why they do this.Believe me, you have wild animals around. I don't know where you are, but if you are anywhere in Southern Maryland, there is no "town" big enough to not have raccoons, opossum or foxes. If you truly are in a city, you'll have rats that could/would kill a small kitten that was left unprotected, but even in a real city, you have wild animals...I saw a coyote in Baltimore once.

But the most likely culprit is one of the adult cats. Probably not the mother, but a male cat will kill a kitten for territorial reasons.

I'm not sure who killed it. It was killed because it's throat was torn open. Long story short, there has been 3 cats behind my place since last fall. They stay over in the tree line and had shelter in an empty shed in the place behind me (no one lives there). I thought one was pregnant because she was too fat for a stray. They always sit over by the trees right before dark everyday and I watch them. Today, I was out with the dog and saw the dead kitten, it was really small but not knowing much about cats I can't guess how young it was but it was tiny, maybe 5 or 6 inches long. When I was moving it was when I noticed it's throat was ripped open. I'm assuming another cat did it, it's not wooded here in town and I saw it this afternoon, I could tell it hadn't been dead that long. That's why I don't think something wild got it, I thought it had to be one of the cats. It made me curious why they do this.

Do you have an unstable neighbor that hates cats?

Do you have an unstable neighbor that hates cats?

I can think of one Leonardtown resident, but he's not really a neighbor lol.

Believe me, you have wild animals around. I don't know where you are, but if you are anywhere in Southern Maryland, there is no "town" big enough to not have raccoons, opossum or foxes. If you truly are in a city, you'll have rats that could/would kill a small kitten that was left unprotected, but even in a real city, you have wild animals...I saw a coyote in Baltimore once.

But the most likely culprit is one of the adult cats. Probably not the mother, but a male cat will kill a kitten for territorial reasons.

You're right about the possums and racoons. I keep making myself sound dumber. I have read that big cats do this (the males), I was trying to figure out their behavior and I felt bad when I found the kitten. I knew the animal people on here would have answers.

SMIBACABRA :evil:

SMIBACABRA :evil:

I was waiting for the first insult. :1bdz:

[QUOTE=mitzi;4572389]I was waiting for the first insult. :1bdz:[/QUOT
It sounds like something a Possum, or Racoon would do, slit the throat. I have never heard of another Cat slitting another's throat, though it is possible I guess. Poor little thing.