4 month kitten depressed

Hello everyone,
   

   
I am new to this site...was searching for some answers to cats and landed on this site.
   

   
About two days ago I lost my 2 and half year old beautiful and loving cat. She used to go out in the night for walks and returned home by early dawn. Two days back she came a bit early around 12.30 pm. She had recently given birth to a male kitten who is now 4 months old. She came that day early and started playing with her son. But soon she again wanted to go out and she woke me up to open the door. I let her out again (I say its my fault) and I feel guilty now as why I let her out. She didnt returned that morning and I became worried. I went in the neighbourhood and enquired but couldn't find her. Then I thought to peep into the garbage bins on the streets and there I found my doll dead. Someone had laid her on a clean plastic sheet, her mouth was little open and was lying as though fast asleep. She bore no wounds. I when looked at her body all over I only saw a small incision on her neck. there was no bleeding. God knows who killed her, dogs, men or some other male cat. I do not know. I am totally depressed and couldnt stop crying. I feel like she is around me. Also feel guilty as why i let her out otherwise she would have been saved.
   

   

   

   
Now her 4 month old kitten whom she was still nursing is sad and is not playing or talking with me. He hides and when I call him he does not react. He loved his mom very much both used to sleep and play together. I gave him milk but he rejected. Only he is taking boiled chicken which he used to take earlier too along with his mom. But he is sad and hisses at me if i try to pick him on my lap. He just sits at the door where his mom would come and look bitterly. And when I begin to cry loudly seeing this he comes near me but again goes away.
   

   

   

   
I am concerned as how will he survive if he will be dull and not talk. He is cute and innocent and does not know anything about this bad world. Also I am upset as I beleive i was the reason for her death as I let her out that night. Please help and advise. Thanks in advance.
   

My dear Winkie;
   
First of all, please accept my deepest sympathy for the loss of your cat.
   
I know how difficult it is to not feel guilty but you are NOT to blame. You would never have harmed your cat and you did not know when she asked to go out that she would end up being killed.
   
No one could have known that.
   
Please forgive yourself. You did nothing wrong.
   
Now on to your kitten.
   
Part of your problem, I believe, is that you are so upset over all of this. He is sensing your feelings and reacting to them.
   
So relax. Back off of him. Put his food and drink down and let him consume them at his leisure. Part of the problem may be that you are freaking him out and he doesn't want to eat with you in his face.
   
Walk away and let him eat on his own terms. He may have just been waiting to have a stress-free munch.
   
If he doesn't want to be with you, don't force it. Leave him alone and let him come to you on his own terms.
   
He's had a trauma, that's for sure, and now your goal is to make it better, not worse.
   
From now on he is an independent 'roommate' who does his own thing other than place his own food down and clean his own litter box.
   
If you are in different rooms, don't seek him out. If he walks into the room you are in, just say, "Hello, Fluffy" and continue what you were doing.
   
His entering the room is not an 'event.' Don't get excited.
   
If you are patient and give him his time and space, he will start to come to you.
   
But that has to happen on his terms, when he's ready.
   
Good luck, I hope you take at least some of my advice and make peace with yourself over the loss of your cat.
   

Thanks so much penguinsfan for your kind reply...I shall do as advised.