[Manda_panda82]

I have 2 cats both female and they are mother and daughter. My older cat is hissing at her daughter who just had 5 kittens 5 days ago and this morning I found 1 kitten dead I want to know if my other cat may be hurting them and if so what should I do to protect the remaining 4 kittens.

[LadySam]

Did you find any wounds on the kitten? Are there any Tomcats around?
Are they outdoors or indoors where you can moniter them?
Was the kitten that died nursing and gaining weight? How did he compare to the others in size and activity?
Toms will often kill kittens, if no toms are lurking around then...
It is possible that either cat may have killed the kitten or that it died naturally.
In the cat kingdom a mother may kill her offspring if she senses a defect that will not allow the kitten to thrive.
A new, unexperienced mother may become stressed and kill a kitten.
In any event I would suggest that you separate the adult cats if you are able, and keep a watchful eye on mom and the kittens.
If you try to move her bed and babies though she will likely just move them elswhere. So I would let her stay where she is comforatable and you do the checking in on her turf.
Resist the urge to handle them so as not to obscure the scent that tells mom they are her babies.
Some cats may not mind but others may become noticeably uneasy about it.
Watch the others closely, If mom is doing her own brood in then you may have to remove them from her and hand-raise them.
I hope that is not the case and you don't lose more.
Sorry for all the questions, but there are many things to consider.
And if I may say, both cats and you will benefit from looking into and planning to spay them. One positive-you don't to be heartbroken over worrying about kittens any more.
Best of Luck

[Manda_panda82]

Around the bum of the kitten the genitlia and the base of the spine have been hurt bad right to the bone. They are indoor cats and I have the box for the kittens in my room by the bed so I can keep an eye on them. Yes the kitten that dies was nursing and gaining weight and he was one of the biggest born.
This is her first litter and she had 5 kittens my other cat is trying to stay away she doesn't even recognize the other cat since the babies were born. She allows me to move the kittens and help her feed them she doesn't mind me touching them.
My older cat is also a mainecoon and I am afraid because of the way she is acting I just want them to get along

[LadySam]

That certainly rules out natural death or the tom cat theory.
But it would be impossible for any one here to say that it was one or the other cat. The fact is that it could be either and for different reasons.
It could be competitive or even predatory on the older cats parts.
It could be protective or the sense that something is wrong with the kitten on moms part.
I'm glad that she is by your bed and she has no problem with you handling them. That's certainly close enough to keep and eye and ear out for them.
I would still separate the adults and moniter them closely.
Wish I could be of more help.

[Manda_panda82]

Thank you, you have been very helpful I am going to try separating the 2 cats as soon as my oldest cats stops hissing at me and my younger cat but again thank you for all your help