Kitten Season is Upon Us - What to Do if you Find a Kitten Nest

Today I was asked to pick up several kittens from the shelter.  They were brought in by people, just like you and I.  They thought they were helping.  But are they?  This season is just really getting started and could potentially last far into early fall or later.

If you find abandoned kittens, here are a few things to think about.  It's not all that uncommon during kitten season to find a nest of unattended kittens, seemingly abandoned.  Your gut tells you to help, but before you jump to take them, consider the following:

First, Wait & Watch

It's likely that Mom is out searching for food.  She may even be looking for a new safe home for her kittens.  It is recommended not to touch or move the kittens, but stand far enough away so you can still see them, but not disturb them.  If she sees you hovering over the nest, she may leave and not return immediately, so the farther the better.

Watch to see if Mom comes back for her kittens. 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 mother’s milk. Remove the kittens only if they are in immediate, grave danger.

If you have observed the nest for a while (at least 2 hours or more) and Mom has not returned, you will need to determine their age.  If they are less than 8 weeks old, they really will need their mom if at all possible. Here are some tips to determine a kittens age.

What to Do if Mom Comes Back

If Mom comes back, that's good news!  It is recommended that you leave the kittens with Mom until they are at least 6 weeks old or weaned.  What you can do is offer her food, fresh water, shelter. However, do not put the food with the shelter.  Mom will likely not use the shelter if food is inside. She will be worried that the kittens may be in danger if the food attracts a predator.

At this time, you can take them to be socialized, neutered and adopted.  Mom can become pregnant again, even while nursing.  So, it is best to get her fixed as soon as possible.   The Urban Cat League has several videos on how to socialize and tame feral kittens.

Do you have the time to care for these kittens?

If you've decided the kittens you have found are abandoned, you will have to remove them in order for them to survive.  But, depending on the age of the kittens, they may require round the clock care.  It's essential for you to understand the process if you intervene!  Most organizations and shelters are not equipped to bottle feed kittens on short notice.  You will want to call before just taking them in.

If you want to try to feed them and get them weaned on your own, there are some great resources online to help you with this process.  Taking on this responsibility can been done.  Please see this resource for tips on how to care for a Neonattal kitten.  In most cases, hypothermia will cause death before starvation.  Make sure they are not directly in front of an air conditioner or a vent.  You can use a heating pad on low to keep them warm.

If you need to Take the Kittens to a Rescue or Shelter

If you've decided that the task is bigger than you, that's ok.  Most shelters and rescue organizations have trained fosters.  If you take them in without giving them notice, neonattal kittens are at risk of getting sick and dying in a shelter.

1. Make sure the kittens are warm and safe
2. Try to determine the kittens age (see reference above)
3. Call the shelter or rescue organization to see if they can accommodate the kittens
4. If they can not immediately be taken in, try to feed them until they can be fostered.  See this link for tips on bottle feeding, replacement formula and emergency home made formula.  Never feed them straight cow's milk, this can cause them discomfort and give them diarrhea.

It is our goal to educate you on what to do if you find abandoned kittens.  It is our nature to want to rescue and care for them.  With these tools, we hope you can make informed decisions and be able to nurture these tiny creatures so they may be adopted.  We are here to help.  If you need more advice or assistance, please find us on Facebook.  We strive to answer all questions as fast as possible.

Resources cited:

http://www.animalalliancenyc.org/

http://www.care2.com/