Kitten Passed Away Unexpectedly

My beautiful Bengal X gave birth a week ago to 5 adorable kittens! All been a good weight and feeding well, my cat has been doting over them and has been brilliant. I have come home today after being at work and found that one has passed away. My queen was still licking it etc. and trying to get it warm. This morning everything seemed normal so I’m so surprised I’m just wondering if anyone has any ideas what this could be and wether my others are in danger of whatever this was too.

Also the queen has started trying to cover her food bowel with towels etc? I have a feeling this is an instinct as in wild they cover/hide food to stop predators finding them?
Any thoughts much appreciated.
Thank you!

I guess it was pneumonia. Its the most common causes healthy born kittens die. So even kittens with a good momma. Even if handfeeding is more dangerous.

The picture is as you describe. Breeder, queen with adorable kittens, everyhting well. healthy in the evening and one kitten cold in the morning. Respective healhy in the morning, dead when they come home from work.

So, its not common but does certainly happens now and then.

Of course, look over all your routines, be watchful etc, but there is a good chance you didnnt do any fault, nor the queen was worthless nor anything.

God did wanted one kitten more so the Paradise will be more complete and even better.

Thank you very much for your reply.

I guess I will never know entirely what happened. I just hope the others are going to be ok.
Do you have any opinion on the covering food?

I agree with your guess although this behavior not very common.

"covering" some food they dont like but too good just to discard is common however.

Covering food is definitely an instinct from the wild. My cats try to do it all the time!

I’m sorry you lost a kitten. It may well have been a genetic heart defect. The others should be okay!

She definitely likes the food as she eats loads of it!
Thank you for your comments.

Is this the same girl you posted about last july? Are you a breeder?

I too lost a 6 day old kitten a few days ago. Everything was fine when I checked on them in the morning, came home to find one of the bigger kittens dead, belly was already starting to bloat. I did have one kitten born that sounded like it inhaled some fluids as it was kind of wheezy when it came out, but not sure if it was the kitten that passed as they all looked the same at birth. Unfortunately it does happen. the 3 remaining kittens are doing great though, they are now 19 days old and are doing great so hopefully they will be fine.

The food covering, my male will do this if it's something he doesn't like. I feed them by the kitchen cabinets and he'll sniff it, and then start scratching the cabinets like he's trying to cover it up if he doesn't like it. Sometimes he will eat it, but if I see him trying to cover it up, then I know chances are he won't eat it. My queen, when she covers, it's almost like she's trying to save it for later because she almost always ends up eating it. It seems to be dependent on the personalities and likes/dislikes of my cats.