Caring for Orphaned Kittens

You’ve found kittens in your yard, and haven’t the faintest idea what to do! It’s not all that uncommon in our urban setting, and Community Cats seems to be around just about every corner. But do they really need you to step in?

Animal shelters experience “Kitten Season” every year beginning in spring, and trailing off in the late fall, early winter. During this time, shelters like Women’s Animal Center are inundated with litters of kittens. Most are not of an age to care for themselves, and shelters reach out to the public to find foster care for these orphans. So, before scooping them up and rushing to the shelter, assess the situation.

First, determine if they are truly abandoned. The reality of kitten-hood is they are far better off being looked after by their mothers. Kittens are fragile creatures that require round-the-clock care. So, observe from a distance to see if their mother returns. Mother cats can be away from their kittens for hours. They may be searching for food, relieving themselves far from the nest, or preparing a new nest and moving kittens one by one. Most of the time a mother cat will not return to her kittens if you are lingering around the nest. Unless there is imminent danger, take a wait and see approach.

Kittens would require your assistance if they are getting cold, or wet, are breathing with their mouths open, or are being threatened by other animals. However, bringing them to the shelter for admission isn’t the best situation for them. Kittens under 8 weeks of age (roughly 2 lbs. in weight) require more care than most shelters have available to them. Not every shelter has the resources for an orphan kitten nursery. Like human infants, they require round the clock feeding and care. They need to be kept warm and need assistance with elimination. A mother cat takes care of all of these needs and more.

If you bring young kittens to Women’s Animal Center, we will ask your assistance in “Waiting Til 8,” which means we will ask if you would partner with Women's Animal Center and care for these kittens until they are 8 weeks old. At that time they would be ready to enter our adoption program. Kittens’ immune systems are not fully developed, and in a shelter environment are more likely to get sick. Since they are delicate, they can spiral into severe illness quickly. It is then we need to make decisions about suffering, the ability to care for them properly, and probable outcome. They have a much better chance at survival if kept in a home environment and not a shelter.

This community-shelter partnership can save lives – something that we all desire. Women's Animal Center can offer expert kitten care advice, and has handouts that explain care of the neonate (under 4 weeks old) and growing kitten. We are here should questions or concerns arise. At 8 weeks of age, we’ll schedule an intake date, the kittens will be examined by our veterinary staff, given the appropriate vaccinations and be spayed or neutered before becoming available for adoption. If you choose to keep one or more of these precious little ones, please discuss this with our Adoption Staff.

To save as many kittens as we can, we’re asking the community to partner with Women's Animal Center and foster these young kittens and “Wait Til 8.”