How To Find A Kitten In The Woods

During high kitten season in the spring and summer, it's not unusual to find a nest of unattended kittens or a single kitten seemingly abased past the female parent. You want to aid, correct?

Before jumping to the rescue,

WAIT…

Mama Cat may be off searching for nutrient. She has to go along herself well fed to produce milk for the babies! It is non unusual for a mama cat to be gone several hours. She may besides be in the process of moving the babies from one location to another (particularly if you've establish i alone).

Appraise the kittens' apparent wellness:

Does their fur expect good for you, full and fluffy? OR Are they muddied? Sickly? Eyes crusty?
Are they sleeping quietly? In a heap? OR Are they crying? Squalling?
Are they dry? OR Are they wet/soaked?

Assess the environment. Are the kittens in IMMEDIATE danger from:

Rain? Wet weather/flooding? Cold?
Wild fauna? Raccoons? Dogs?
Traffic – pedestrian pes traffic? Bicycles or cars? Mean neighbors/kids?

Accept a wait at this guide to make up one's mind if kittens need your assist or not. Remember that removing very immature kittens from Mama Cat greatly reduces their chances of survival even if you provide circular-the-clock care.

…AND WATCH

Unless the kittens are in immediate danger, it is all-time to watch to see if the Mama Cat volition return. You should be at least 35 feet away (more is improve).

Do NOT place nutrient almost the kittens to lure Mama Cat. Mama Cat almost always purposely hides her litter away from food sources as she knows that food will attract other cats and fifty-fifty bigger predators!

You may need to get out completely and come back afterward (4-6 hours) to check whether the kittens are withal OK (dry, sleeping/placidity, announced fed, etc.). Peculiarly if she'southward feral, Mama Cat will nigh likely NOT render until she no longer senses human being presence.

Know that good for you kittens can survive several hours without food every bit long as they are warm. Neonatal kittens are much more at chance of hypothermia than they are of starvation.

During typical kitten season in the spring and summer months, waiting a longer time to see if Mama True cat will come back is usually very safe.

TAKING KITTENS IN

Remove the kittens **just** if they are in immediate, grave danger OR if they announced very sickly and ill.

Outset of all, if the mother cat returns…

If Mama True cat returns and the area is relatively condom, get out the kittens with Mama Cat until they are weaned. You tin can monitor the environment and offer a shelter and regular food to Mama Cat … but keep the food and shelter at a distance from each other. Mom will find the food but volition non accept your shelter if the food is nearby, because she will non desire to attract other cats or predators to food located almost her nest.

Mama Cat offers her kittens the absolute all-time run a risk for survival. Never remove healthy kittens from Mama Cat earlier they are four weeks one-time. v-6 weeks is the optimal age to take the kittens from a feral Mama Cat for socialization and adoption placement, and whatsoever time after 8 weeks for Trap-Neuter-Return (spay/neuter, vaccination, eartip, and return to their colony). For kittens of friendly cats, they should remain with Mama True cat until at least 8-10 weeks old.

Female cats tin become pregnant with a new litter even while they are nevertheless nursing, so don't forget to get the mother true cat spayed or you will have more kittens soon! For information or advice nearly trapping Mama Cats – and about local feral cat help and TNR programs, see here.

If the female parent cat does not render…

The Mama True cat offers her kittens the absolute best chance for survival, and then WAIT and Scout equally long as you can. The all-time food for kittens is their mother'due south milk. She will provide them not just with properly counterbalanced diet but also much-needed antibodies and allowed system support!

Although there are resource to help you, it would be best if y'all are prepared to see the kittens through at to the lowest degree until getting additional help (which could be days or weeks) if you determine to intervene!

Other resources:

If you decide to raise abased kittens, check with Pet Food Express. They may be able to provide free starter kits that comprise a pocket-sized corporeality of specially formulated kitten milk, a bottle, and other emergency, essential supplies for raising a tiny kitten.

Check these pages for other tips and suggestions: