Staff Report
“Kitten season” is beginning in many parts of the country, and this means kittens will be turning up in every community: in sheds, behind bushes, under porches, and overwhelmingly in local shelters.
Kitten season is generally spring through fall, when unspayed female cats have the majority of their litters, and shelters across the country are inundated with kittens, some of whom need round-the-clock care.
When you find kittens outside, it's natural to be concerned. It may seem like they've been orphaned or abandoned and should be scooped up and taken to a shelter right away.
However, in most cases, removing the kittens is not the best response and doing so may end up putting them in even greater danger. Most “orphaned” kittens are not orphaned at all, so the best thing to do for healthy kittens is to leave them with their mother, who is often nearby and planning to return. She is their best source of nourishment and can give them better care than even the most attentive human foster.
Many shelters don’t have the resources, space, staff or volunteers to provide newborn kittens with the critical care they need. Young kittens are at high risk of dying or being killed in shelters since newborns need to be bottle fed every two to four hours, and they are also extremely fragile and susceptible to illness.
Data from Best Friends Animal Society shows that two cats are killed in shelters for every one dog. In 2020, nearly 347,000 dogs and cats were killed in America’s animal shelters, of which nearly 70% were cats and kittens.
The best way to help most found kittens is to leave them with their mother. When they are more than eight weeks old, contact your local shelter or rescue for spay/neuter resources.
To give newborn kittens the best chance of survival, ask yourself these questions:
How long ago did you first notice the litter?
If it has only been a short time, leave the kittens alone and try to figure out if their mom is still around. Observe them from a distance every couple of hours. It’s okay to wait up to 10 to 12 hours to see if mom returns for them. If the kittens seem content and are not fussing, there’s a good chance their mom is coming back.
Haven’t seen the mom cat recently?
Sprinkle a ring of flour around the kittens so you can go away but check periodically for paw prints from a returning mother cat, or use a wildlife camera to monitor the nest from a safe distance.
Are the kittens in any danger?
If the kittens are in danger due to their location, move them to a safer spot nearby so the mom can easily find them when she returns.
Do any of the kittens look injured, sick or are crying?
If the kittens are dirty, meowing or appear sick, underweight or dehydrated, this could be a sign that the mom hasn’t been around in some time. Contact a local rescue organization, trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR) or community cat program. They can help you determine if the kittens are at risk and if you should intervene.
Is their nest clean or messy?
Mom cats are very fastidious about keeping their babies clean, so chances are if they are in a tidy location she’s been around recently.
How old do you think the kittens may be? Determine the kittens’ age and identify key milestones (are their eyes open, are they walking, etc.). The younger the kittens, the more likely they will need human intervention if mom doesn’t show up soon.
Did you spot the mom?
If the mom is nearby, leave the kittens alone and let her be the one to care for them. She is their best chance of survival.
Are the kittens old enough to be spayed or neutered?
When the kittens have been eating on their own for about four weeks or are big enough for surgery (typically between two to three months old), a TNVR program can help you humanely trap the whole family and have them spayed or neutered. This is the most humane, safe and effective method of preventing cats and kittens from entering the shelter system while reducing the overall stray cat population.
Did the mom not return after 12 hours or so?
If mom doesn’t return and the kittens otherwise appear healthy, it’s time to step in. By caring for the kittens yourself and keeping them out of the shelter, you are giving them a better chance to survive and thrive.
Taking newborn kittens to your local shelter should be a last resort, but because countless kittens do end up in shelters during kitten season, kitten foster volunteers are needed throughout the country to save lives and give them a chance to find forever homes. Learn more about how to help kittens in your community at www.bestfriends.org/kittens.
