young cat abandoning kittens

[frankofile]

My colleague got a kitten a while ago. As far as I can tell she is reasonably responsible, and was planning to have it neutered at 6 months. Unfortunately it got pregnant before this and now has 3 kittens aged about 2 weeks. The problem is the little Mum keeps taking them outside and abandoning them. Several thoughts go through my mind; 1. Mum is quite young
2. It is a fairly busy household, with 3 generations, dog (friendly) kids and other pets. Over the weekend they lost the kittens for 2 days and Mum did not seem concerned, Have got them back now, but any advice would be gratefully received and passed on

[LottieAnne]

This is not unusual with a very young and inexperienced Mum. It sounds as if the kittens might be too exposed to the rest of the household. Could they be put in a room where there are no other animals until they are 3 - 4 weeks old? I used to put mine in a basket under a piano stool with a crotcheted blanket hanging over the side so that they were in semi-darkness for the first few days. While they do need handling regularly they do not need noise and bustle around them.