What should you do if you find a litter of kittens outdoors?
If you are like many of us animal-lovers, your first reaction is probably take the stray kittens home and care for them. In some cases this may be possible, but in order to make sure the kittens stay safe and sound, there are steps that must be taken first. We have put together this guide to ensure that kittens are cared for and that proper precautions are taken!
Do not assume the kittens have been abandoned
Momma cat may just be making a quick trip to pick up food and bring back to her little ones. It’s also possible that she is in hiding because she saw you approaching. Separating the little ones from their mother while they are still so young should be avoided if at all possible, as no one is able to care for them better than she is. Keep an eye on the batch for at least a couple of hours to see if mom returns. If she does show up, and the kittens seem to be in a safe location, it is best to leave them be. You can place food and water nearby for mom, but do not force her to eat. She will sniff out the goods if she is interested!
If she returns, but shows signs of being feral, it may be best to perform a TNR. For more information about what this is, click here.
Lastly, do not pick the kittens up if they appear to be four months or older. They could be feral and won’t be the most welcoming to being handled. It is always best to approach the situation as if they are feral until you are certain otherwise.
Arrange for them to have the best possible care
The idea of having a bundle of adorable kittens at home to play with and care for is undeniably a pleasant one, but often abandoned kittens need more than just warmth, food, and water to become the healthiest they can be.
Firstly, depending on age, they may still be reliant on their mother’s milk. When taken too early, kittens have a much lower chance of survival even if they are bottle fed milk by their caretaker. Also, the kittens could have other medical conditions such as worms, parasites (Toxoplasma), rabies, and various other infectious diseases that can be spread to other animals.
It is always best to call an animal welfare agency to come rescue the cats if possible. They are experienced in caring for abandoned animals and will be able to assess the situation and make the right decisions to get the kittens the care they need. If you are unable to contact such an organization, you can call a local veterinary clinic and provide them with as much information as possible about where they were found, along with your contact information. Most animal rescue organizations have relationships with local veterinarians and will be contacted to care for the animals.
Keep them warm until help arrives
If the kittens feel cold, they need to be warmed up quickly. Tiny kittens spend most of their energy growing and meowing for food, leaving them with barely any left to raise their body temperature…never a good thing! Set a heating pad to low and wrap it in 2 towels or use a hot water bottle warmed to about 100 degrees and wrapped in a towel. Place it in half of the “nesting area”, but be sure the kittens also have room to move away if they feel a little too toasty. Being over-heated isn’t ideal either! Keep a close eye on them while you wait for assistance. Continually check for signs of chilling (kittens are listless, cold to the touch, the kittens mouth feels cold), if you think the kittens are too cold and could be in danger, try using your own body heat to warm them. Try placing the kitten close to where your body is most warm (near the armpit, close to the chest), or massaging the tiny kitten with your warm hands. It’s important NOT to feed kittens that are severely cold. Warm them first!
If there are no local organizations that can take the kittens, you are certain their mother is not coming back, and you fear for their safety, then it is okay to take them inside. But you must understand that simply taking newborn kittens into your home won’t be enough to nurse them back to health. They will need to be bottle fed around-the-clock (requiring formula, kitten-nursing bottles, etc) , and will need an indoor nesting area (cardboard box, heating pad, water bottle, etc). Before taking on this responsibility, we urge you to do your research so that your new little friends grow to be healthy and strong!
