Do you know what to do if you find a stray kitten? And how do you determine if the kitten is in fact a stray in the first place?
So, you found a stray kitten … but the next step isn’t simply taking him home with you. What do you feed a stray kitten? Where should you take stray kittens if you can’t care for them yourself? And how do you determine if the kitties are in fact strays in the first place?
Investigate — does the stray kitten have a mother?
Helping orphaned kittens will first require some detective work. One of the biggest mistakes people make when finding stray kittens is taking them away from their mother. Neonatal kittens are still nursing and need to be fed frequently, so they should be kept with their mother, if possible.
Orphaned Kitten Care
These kittens seem to be orphaned and will need a foster home and a caregiver to care for them—hopefully that is you! Visit Kitten Lady’s website for information on how to care for the kittens* until they are old enough for adoption. Start on the “Age section” to see what level of care the kittens need and collaborate with your local shelter/rescue or veterinarian for their medical care. If you cannot provide foster care for these kittens or need additional support, please contact your local shelter or rescue to see if they can help.
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
Lethargy/almost no movement
Excessively crusted eyes”¯or nose
Diarrhea”¯or vomiting
Struggling to breathe
Signs of an injured kitten include:
Limping
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 (like a bathroom). 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. (Copied)
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