Does anyone know anything about why cats sometimes absorb kittens. If so what proof do breeders have? Have kittens been identified on ultrasound only to have disappeard a couple of weeks later?

something wrong with the kitten

__________________
http://www.freewebs.com/miocarosiamese/

i think you will find his can happen with humans as well

__________________
My holiday pics.http://zafirasphotosofwales.webs.com/






http://www.save-me.org.uk/
.......... I HATE TWO FACED PEOPLE...ITS SO HARD TO KNOW WHICH FACE TO SLAP FIRST!

Infections and serious deformities in the kittens may cause resorption. But of course it's hard to prove that there have been foetuses in the queen when they're gone. You need to have had an ultrasound done previous resorption in order to be completely sure.

But it happens in all mammals, so why not in cats?

I've heard of it, foetal movements detected or a scan showing foetuses that had been resorbed by the time delivery came, so there were less than expected.
A friend had a placenta passed with no kitten at all, vet said it would have been resorbed at some stage.

__________________

My vet was saying it is more common than people realise. Sometimes its the whole litter other times its just one or 2. I think it probably is down to abnormalities or still borns etc, but who knows for sure,

__________________
Mel xxx

Slave to 3 Persians, 1 Bengal, 1 Moggie and 2 Ferals

I think its very clever. Mother Nature realises she hasn't got it quite right and it gets dealt with. Most times you never see anything, just see the early signs of pregnancy, pink teats, putting on weight, then everything seems to go backwards and their due date comes and goes. Depending on when they reabsorb, you may see a funny mummified sort of kitten born, but not really recognisable as a kitten.

I did have a queen just deliver 2 afterbirths once, nothing else, no kits, so I assume whatever was attached at some point, didn't develop any further.

__________________

www.saikousiameseandorientals.com

"Love a lot, trust just a few and always paddle your own canoe"
"Who is the greater fool - the fool themself or those that follow them"

In a sense its a mercy as the queen is spared the hard work of parturition / birthing and the potential kitten is spared the hard work of struggling to survive and then dying what might be a painful death. Sad but mother nature knows best ...

__________________
best purrs

Ra

http://www.bobergsiamese.co.uk/

totally agree!

It happens to all creatures which give birth, mainly caused by illness or infection as already said.

__________________