fading kitten syndrome

Kittens that die within the first two weeks after birth. This may happen for varying reason such as malnourishment during gestation or postpartum, sub-clinical infections, blood type incompatibility, congenital malformation, large litters with not enough nipples for the number of kittens, or inability of a smaller kitten to compete with other kittens etc. There are many variable factors that may contribute to the death of a kitten, but in general the term "Fading Kitten Syndrome" is often used when breeders do not know why the kitten died as no necropsy was performed on the kitten or the necropsy failed to show a reason for the death of a kitten.

SOURCE: cat-world.com.au