What to do when you find kittens

Written by Nancy Mingus, ACHS Volunteer

Found kittens?

If you find a litter of kittens, or a single kitten alone, don’t assume they’ve been abandoned. In most cases, the best thing you can do is leave them be. Kittens have the highest chance of survival when they remain with their mother. Outdoor, feral, or unsocialized female cats choose many different places to give birth: storm drains, barns and sheds, under houses and decks, or in bushes and tall grass.

Assess the kittens

Are they warm, clean, plump, and sleeping? If yes, their mom is caring for them. She may be hiding nearby and watching you—or she might be out searching for food.

Observe before intervening. Move at least 35 feet away, and stay as hidden as possible. Watch for 8–12 hours if you can.

Only intervene if the kittens are in immediate danger, such as cold or rainy weather, heavy foot or vehicle traffic, or the presence of loose dogs.

How old are these kittens?

Alley Cat Allies has a great guide for identifying kitten age here: https://www.alleycat.org/resources/kitten-progression/

ACHS Volunteers: please bookmark alleycat.org for great information. They deserve donations and support!

When to step in

Only step in if the kittens are thin, dirty, or crying constantly—or you’ve waited several hours and the mom has not returned. Then it’s time to help.

If you do decide to remove the kittens, have a warm setup ready for them:

• A box or container

• Heating pad on low

• Warm water bottle wrapped in a towel or a microwaved rice pack

• Soft blankets

IMPORTANT: 

• Never feed a cold kitten

• Never give cow’s milk

Both of these can be fatal! Instead of cow’s milk, use Kitten Milk Replacer, available in stores locally.

Get help immediately

We have trained fosters and bottle feeders who can help. If you are not prepared, experienced, or able to care for orphaned kittens, please reach out. Seeking professional help is vital to their survival.

Contact the Athens County Humane Society:

740-592-6047 Main phone line

740-590-0711 Humane Agent

These are numbers are monitored by our Executive Director, Humane Agent, and key volunteers. They may be working with animals when you call, but they check messages frequently and will return your call as soon as possible.