Why would a cat eat its kittens?

Why would a cat eat its kittens?

One of the most common reasons a cat might eat one of her kittens in the wild is that she is malnourished and requires the nutrients she gets from eating her young. She will also usually eat the placenta. If the cat is extremely underweight, it may eat the entire litter.

Do cats eat their dead kittens after birth?

A mother cat will only eat her kitten when she is sure that they are dead. That means she will often leave the body alone for hours, just in case the kitten revives. The reason that a mother cat will eat the kitten is twofold. The first reason has to do with survival for her and the rest of the kittens.