Feral Mom Returns Do Not Fear
Leave the family outside, and provide food, water, and shelter. The mother will likely move the kittens, do not worry. If she knows this is a safe place with a stable food source, shell return with them. If you are able to commit, the kittens should be taken away from their mom when theyre able to eat on their own . When you bring them inside, handle them often to get them used to human socialization. The kittens should be fixed and adopted out around 8-10 weeks of age. If you cannot foster and socialize the kittens, leave the kittens outside! Dont socialize a kitten that you cannot place they will learn survival skills from their mother that will give them their best chance at outdoor survival as a feral cat.
How Old Are These Kittens
Newborn kittens are born blind, deaf, and cant regulate their own temperature for the first few weeks of their lives. Therefore, if they truly are orphaned or their mom is unable to care for them, they will require specialized around-the-clock care. This usually involves bottle-feeding and helping them go to the bathroom every 2-4 hours, as well as constantly keeping them warm. By the time they reach 4-6 weeks of age, they will generally be able to eat solid food on their own and will then require less intensive care.
The survival rate for neonatal kittens improves significantly when they remain with mom, but bringing the family to the shelter should always be a last resort unless they are sick or injured. The shelter environment can be extremely stressful for a lactating mom trying to nurse her babies in peace, so it is best to keep the family where they are to avoid mom possibly rejecting her babies or being unable to produce milk due to stress.
What To Do If Mother Is Gone
Has mom vanished for more than eight hours? Sadly, these kittens are likely orphans. During kitten season, Valley shelters are overrun and dont have adequate resources to care for them. Please care for them in your home until theyre eight weeks old. Contact us, and well provide care kits and resources for vaccinations, spay and neuter surgeries, and find them their forever homes when theyre ready.
- Immediate Resources
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Take the first step toward ensuring these kittens get off to a healthy start by contacting our Pet Resource Center at to:
- Pick up your free Care in Place kitten care kit or learn how to create your own kit. Free kits are limited to one kit per client per season.
- Receive information on how to care for your kittens until they are 8 weeks of age.
- Learn how well assist you in finding kittens their forever homes when theyre ready for adoption.
Please remember, if you see adult cats in your neighborhood please arrange to have them spayed/neutered by calling .
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What To Do When You Find A Kitten
When you come across a kitten or litter of kittens alone outdoors, you may feel the need to scoop them up and take them inside but that might not be the best thing for them . Read on to learn how you can best help kittens found outdoors.
Wait for the mother cat to returnWhile it might seem like the kittens have been orphaned, most kittens are not abandoned by their mother. Keeping kittens with their mother is ideal, so its important to give the mother cat time to return. If the kittens are in an exposed or unsafe area , you can move them a short distance to a safer location, such as under a nearby bush. You could also put the kittens into a cardboard box that you place close by, but out of the way of traffic and predators. These options will help protect the kittens while keeping them where their mother can easily find them again.
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Once the kittens are in a safe spot, wait for their mother to return. It could be several hours before she comes back. Often, she has simply been away getting food. Sometimes shes nearby, but is hiding until you leave. Watch from inside, or at least from a good distance, so the mother cat feels comfortable returning to her kittens.
If the mother cat returns After the mother cat comes back, you can take additional steps to help to keep the feline family healthy and safe.
You can help kittens and mother cats by being informed, knowing when to take action, and getting involved when help is needed. Thank you for learning more today!
What Should I Do If I Find Kittens
It depends on if their mom returns! Refer to the information below for examples on what to look for when you find kittens:
- If mom is around and seems to be caring for the kittens well, you can keep monitoring the entire family as the kittens grow so they can all be trapped once the kittens are around 8 weeks of age. Please visit our Community Cats Program page for Trap Neuter Return services.
- If mom seems to be struggling to care for the kittens, you can routinely offer her food and water in an accessible area that is not too close to the nest to prevent possible predators from finding the kittens.
- Be sure to maintain a safe distance between yourself and the family to prevent spooking mom and abandoning the kittens if she considers you a threat. Not all outdoor cats appreciate close interactions with humans, and it is crucial to keep the babies with mom to increase their survival rate.
Although neonatal kittens require specialized care to survive, bottle-feeding can be easy to learn and we can help! If you are willing and able to care for the kittens you found, TAF can provide the knowledge .
If the kittens are already eating on their own, even better! Socialization with humans is critical for kittens between 4-8 weeks of age in order to make good indoor pets, and this is where the true fun begins.
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What To Do If You Find A Newborn Kitten
OOTC EditorThis article is now outdated. An updated version of this information can be found at
During kitten season, its not unusual to discover a nest of unattended kittens or a single kitten seemingly abandoned by his/her mother.
by Valerie Sicignano, NYC Feral Cat Initiative
During high kitten season in the spring and summer, its not unusual to discover a nest of unattended kittens or a single kitten seemingly abandoned by the mother. You want to help, right? Before jumping to the rescue, consider these recommendations.
First: Wait & Watch
You might have come across the kittens while their mother is off searching for food, or is in the process of moving them to a different location. Try to determine if the mother is coming back for them, or if they are truly orphaned.
To do this, stand far away from the kittens 35 feet or more. If you stand too close, the mom will not approach her kittens. You might need to go away completely before the mother cat will return to attend to the kittens. It might be several hours before the mother cat returns until she no longer senses the presence of humans hovering near her litter.
The mother cat offers her kittens best chance for survival, so wait and watch as long as you can. The best food for the kittens is their mothers milk. Remove the kittens only if they are in immediate, grave danger.
If the mother cat returns
If the mother cat does not return
Adopting Out The Kittens
The final step. Successful socialization is the most important part of the process, so make sure you teach them to trust and like humans as early as you are able! Please spay and neuter them before you adopt them out , they will not only be more attractive to adopters, but it will also help prevent this cycle from happening all over again. Once they are fixed, advertise liberally! Use social networking sites, tells friends, relatives, colleagues and acquaintances, and get them adopted out as early as you can! The older the kittens get, the harder it will be to find them homes.
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Orphaned Kitten Care Guidelines
Since young kittens do not have the ability to regulate their body temperatures, we must help maintain body warmth for them.
If a kitten feels cold, its essential to begin the process of slowly warming them. Place the kitten on a heating pad or wrap them snugly in a warm towel until their temperature stabilizes.
Once warmed, the kittens should still be provided with a heat source, but should be given the ability to move off the source if they get too hot. Always make sure there is a blanket or towel between the kitten and the heat source to prevent them from being burned.
QUICK TIP: Sunbeam 731-500 heating pads set to medium are a good source of heat and do not automatically shut off.
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Unable To Care For The Kittens Yourself
Do¯NOT take the kittens¯to an animal shelter. See if a friend or family member can care for them, or contact local rescues, animal protection groups, or advocates. You may be able to find such advocates near you through Alley Cat Allies Feral Friends Network®. Find a member in your area at¯ alleycat.org/FindFeralFriends.
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Kittens Younger Than 8 Weeks With Their Mother
Leave Them Be! Kittens who are healthy and thriving with their mother outdoors do not need to be rescued.
Remember: Mother knows best. You cannot replace a mother cats instinctive care. Plus, neonatal kittens need round-the-clock care to survivewhich is challenging for humans to provide. These kittens are unweaned, meaning they still rely on their mothers milk.
What If The Kittens Are In Danger
If a kitten is sick or injured, contact your local veterinarian right away if your kittens show these signs:
- Signs of a sick kitten include:
- Thin¯stomachs¯¯¯and gaunt faces, visible¯ribs and spine
- Cold¯ears, bellies,¯and¯paws
- Pale gums and tongue
- Excessively crusted eyes¯or nose
- Diarrhea¯or vomiting
Signs of an injured kitten include:
- Visible wounds or sores
- Crying out in pain
There may be rare circumstances in which the kittens current environment places them in immediate danger. This is not a common scenario, so use common sense. For example, kittens may need to be removed if they are in an area that is¯about to be flooded or is close to a fire.
If possible, move the kittens to another outdoor spot as close to their original nest as is safe so their mother can find them.
If you believe mother and kittens are in more long-term danger, such as extreme weather or disaster conditions
- Bring the whole family inside to a quiet, small room . You can also use a large dog crate, covered with a blanket.
- Provide the mother cat and kittens with a carrier as a hiding place. Provide food¯and water, and a litter box placed as far away from the sleeping and eating area as possible.
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How To Check A Cat Microchip
Microchips are the best way to determine the specific details about a cat. If you are unsure of a cats origin and whether it is being well looked after. If you have a secure cat carrier to take him to the nearest vet they will usually be able to scan the cat to see if it has a microchip. If you do not know the vet you may like to call them first to check they will offer this service for free.
If The Cat Is Pregnant
Unless she appears to be sick or injured, theres usually little to worry about. Shell probably have a home and owner nearby, or she may be a healthy stray. We understand you may be worried about the cat and want us to help, but its highly unlikely we would be able to collect a healthy pregnant mum.
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Ask Around For Interested Parties
Worry not if you cannot adopt all or even one or a couple of the kittens in your yard.
Thats because some of your family and friends and people in your neighborhood may be more than happy to have kittens as pets. All you have to do is let them know that there are lovable kittens available for them to adopt.
But because its not a good idea to take young kittens away from their mother cat, especially those that are not yet fully weaned, the little cats will have to stay on your property until they are old enough to be separated from their mom.
However, avoid getting too attached to them your heart may break when its time to give them away!
In the meantime, continue putting out food and drinking water to keep their mother properly nourished and hydrated. And when the kittens are ready to try solid food, usually when they are around four to five weeks of age, you may offer them cat food and some human food, too!
Just Before You Spring Into Action
Kittens are vulnerable creatures. This is especially true for those that are younger than eight weeks old and not fully weaned. The next few steps that you will take upon coming across kittens in your yard, whether their mother is around or not, will have a massive impact on the overall fate of the little felines.
Above, we talked about what to do if you find kittens in your yard all nine possible steps.
In California, for instance, you could end up in jail for a year and pay $20,000 in fines if proven guilty.
Feeding Schedule For Kittens By Weight And Age
Determining the age of the stray kitten right away is imperative. His age will mandate what hell eat as well as how much and how often.
Using a postal scale, heres a quick guide:
- Under 1 week old: kitten weighs less than 4 ounces. Feed formula: every two to three hours.
- 7 to10 days old: kitten weighs 4 to 6 ounces. Feed formula: every two to three hours.
- 10 to14 days old: kitten weighs 6 to 8 ounces. Feed formula: every three hours.
- 14 to21 days old: kitten weighs 8 to 12 ounces. Feed formula: every four hours.
- 4 to5 weeks old: kitten weighs 12 ounces to 1 pound. Feed mix of gruel/formula/kitten kibble: every four hours.
- 6 to7 weeks old: kitten weighs 1 pound to 1 pound and 8 ounces. Feed mix of kitten kibble and wet food four times a day.
- 8 weeks old: kitten weighs one and a half to 2 pounds. Fully weaned.
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How Do I Know If The Cat Is Feral Stray Or An Owned Cat
Before you do anything, it is important to think about whether the cat you’ve found is a stray, a feral or an owned cat. If they appear well-groomed and is a healthy weight, they may have an owner nearby.
Ferals behave like wild animals and won’t come close, even with encouragement. Stray cats might look lost and disorientated, but may be friendly if given time. Check out our visual guide for more tips on how to identify the cat you have found.
- without an ear tip – won’t have their ear ‘tipped’, even if they have been neutered
- appear near houses – either in people’s gardens or near homes
- microchipped – if they are a missing pet, they may have a microchip
- recent in their appearance, looking lost and disorientated
What Should I Do
During kitten season, it is not uncommon to come across a litter of kittens, mama cats, or pregnant cats that need help. Our foster program cares for hundreds of kittens each year and finds them their forever homes. If you have found kittens, your first instinct might be to pick them up and take them inside. Despite your good intentions, doing so could cause more harm than good. Every situation is different so please read the information below on how best to proceed or call us for help at 343-7177.
To place pregnant mamas, kittens, or a mama and kittens into our foster program, please fill out this
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Provide Food Shelter And Monitor
It is likely mom is taking good care of her kittens. Provide mom and her kittens with food, a dry and clean shelter, and continue to monitor their well-being. Once the kittens are able to eat wet food on their own, around 4-5 weeks old, you can bring them into your home to provide foster care and prepare them for adoption*. Visit this site for information on how to care for the kittens.
Prepare a Trap-Neuter-Return-Monitor plan for mom that will help keep them out of an animal shelter and set them up for long, healthy lives outdoors as community cats.
If you cannot provide foster care for these kittens or if you need additional support providing a TNRM plan for mom and her kittens, contact your local shelter or rescue to see if they can help.
*Please ensure these kittens dont have an owner already by checking for an ID tag and asking the shelter/rescue or a veterinary clinic to scan for a microchip. You can post signs in the neighborhood where they were found with a photo and details about the kittens. We encourage you to check your local laws to see if a found animal report needs to be filed or if notice needs to be given to either animal control or your local shelter
Has mom returned to her kittens within a few hours?
NOTE: