cat putting kittens in litter box

Question
My husband just came home from work and found that our mommy cat had had her babies. We are not sure where she gave birth but he had taken them to the litter box! My husband took them out and made a nice warm bed for her and her kittens but she keeps putting them back in the litter box when we leave the room. Any reason why she would be doing this to them?
We do have a male cat a month older but he doesn't show any interest in the kittens at all. We try to leave the door shut but the mommy cat howls at the door and wont stop scratching at the door.

Answer
Rochelle,

It is a first time mother? They do some bizarre things! But that is where she wants them and where she feels they are safest. To move them when she moves the back will only stress her out and may affect her milk production. She should move them soon on her own. If the kittens are being nursed and not crying, I would suggest taking the litter out of the litterbox and letting her stay there. Get a second litterbox to use and put it in a different area.

Note: a female can get go into heat and get pregnant 48 hours to two weeks after giving birth so be careful if your male cat is a tom!

Tabbi