Cat in season?

Question
QUESTION: Hi, I hope someone can help. My Mum has been feeding a stray female cat for a few weeks. We noticed that she was looking quite round and she had milk so my mum made her a bed in a box but she wasn't interested in it. On Sunday my mum went out to put some food down and there was a dead kitten on the doorstep, the cat (which isn't very old, she's quite small) picked up the dead kitten and put it in the prepared bed, she slept there all day sunday with this dead kitten, washing it it and such, it was very sad. I've told my Mum to keep the cat in (I got rid of the dead kitten sunday evening) My problem is now there are at least 5 tom cats hanging about the garden, is it possible that the cat is in season again? Is it possible she just had the one kitten? My mam has no idea who this cat belongs to so for now is keeping it indoors, the poor cat looks shattered and has already had one tom cat on it's back before my mum noticed the dead kitten.

ANSWER: Hi Karen,

As soon as the kit was dead and the mom not nursing she can go back into heat. Sometimes males will try to get rid of the kits so they can breed again. Do her and yourself a favor and get her spayed. She sounds like a nice cat. Good luck.

Ciao, Karen

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Is it possible she only had the one kitten? I was always under the impression that cats had a few kittens.

Answer
Hi Karen,

If this was her first litter, then she could quite possibly have had only one. Does she try to get out? Is she still producing milk? If it's yes to both then she might have other kits outside. You then need to let her go. Make sure that you feed her by your house. She might move the kits near to you then. Watch and see where she goes. She might lead you to them. Write back and let me know what happens.

Ciao, Karen