Found a stray kitten?
Read below to find out what to do.
Warmer weather and longer days mean more kittens being born. If you come across kittens without their mom, your first instinct might be to pick them up. However, separating a mom from her babies may do more harm than good. Just because kittens are alone does not mean they have been orphaned. Their mom could be out looking for food, or even waiting close by for humans to leave.
Generally, we recommend checking to make sure the kittens look like they are in good health and then waiting 2 to 4 hours before checking again to see if their mom has returned.
However, there are some exceptions. If you observe the following issues, you may need to help:
Temperature: Kittens are not able to self-regulate their body temperature. They rely on their mom, siblings, and nesting to keep warm. If the kittens look to be in otherwise good shape, check back in 2 to 4 hours to see if their mom has returned.
Cleanliness: Mother cats meticulously clean their kittens. Kittens will need your help if they look dirty, are wet, have feces or urine crusted to their fur, or have red/inflamed genitals.
Weight: Kittens should be eating frequently with their mom. Their bellies should be full and rounded. A kitten will need your help if they have sunken bellies, visible bones, and/or pale skin.
Noisy: Kittens who are orphaned and hungry are often noisy, but not all noisy kittens are orphaned. If you hear kittens, we recommend waiting and checking back on them in 2 to 4 hours. If they are quiet when you return, their mom has probably been back to care for them, and you should let her keep up the good work.
Sick/Hurt: A kitten who is sick or in pain will need your help. A few examples of this include discharge from eyes or nose, eyes crusted shut. sores on their bodies, or open wounds.
If you find orphaned kittens who need your help, please bring them to your local animal shelter. Please note that the shelter you should bring them to depends on in which city the kittens were found. View a list of public shelters and the cities they serve.
