[mamamccabe]

My cat had 7 kittens 4 weeks ago. 4 of them died within the first 2 weeks, and the other 3 seem very healthy and growing well. I moved the litter box upstairs where the kittens are because I have 2 little kids and I don't think I can trust bringing the kittens down yet. Anyway, when I did that the mother stopped using the litter box; and I thought she wasn't going at all, but when I went down to the basement I found a huge pile of cat feces and urine in the corner. There was so much that it looks like someone dumped it there. Also my cat has become so aggressive toward my daughter that she actually chases her to bite and attack her. This is my first time with kittens but I know something isn't right, any ideas? Also if there is something wrong with the mother is it too early to take the kittens away from her?

[Akoue]

Yes, it is too early to separate mother and kittens. The mother is likely feeling very protective and it isn't unusual for females to become aggressive while their kittens are still so young.

I hope that you will find outstanding homes for the surviving members of the litter--none of whom should be weaned until they are at least eight to ten weeks old. Please don't dump them in a shelter where they will live a short, terrible, life until they are killed in a way that is not humane (despite what some shelters may say). I also hope that you will have your cat spayed once this is all over. In any case, you really should be consulting with your vet in order to educate yourself about proper care for both the mother and her litter. This is a matter of life and death: There are real consequences for getting things wrong.