Saved and left game but when returned all villagers and livestock gone

I had been playing a game for several days. I was in a village and I was trading. I had a phone call so I saved and exited the game. When I reloaded all the villagers were gone. When I returned to my farm all my animals had disappeared leaving empty fences. I reloaded several times and even continued to play hoping if I slept the mobs would reappear but they didn't. I started a new game yesterday and the same thing happened again. I saved and exited a game and when I returned all villagers and tamed cats were gone. I left the game with about five cats in the house. When I reloaded all were gone and when I went outside all the villagers and livestock were gone.  Afraid to waste further time playing if game will suddenly ruin all my time spent.