If you find kittens on the street, it is very normal to feel concerned and feel the need to rescue them, but the first step is to assess the situation.
You can follow this decision tree to calculate the kittens’ age and help you to know what to do.
0-4 Weeks Old
The best chance of survival for kittens at this age is to stay with their mother. Mum’s milk is perfect for them. She keeps them warm and protects them. You can watch the kittens from a distance, or you can come back later to see if their Mum comes back for them, as she may just be away trying to find food. Another good idea is to spread flour around the kittens and watch for mum’s paw prints.
You should only remove kittens if they are in danger or visibly injured. In those cases, you should either relocate them to a safer place or take them to the vet immediately.
If you have waited for a few hours (3-6 hours) and mum hasn’t returned, then it’s time to act, you can care for the kittens yourself. It may seem overwhelming at first, but everybody can take care of kittens with the right information, supplies, and resolution. You don’t need a lot of space. You can keep the kittens in a small carrier all day long! Even if you live in a small apartment, you can set up a playpen for when the kittens are older and able to move more. You can also contact your local vet for advice on the best products to use.Â
If you cannot care for the kittens yourself, ask a friend, loved one, or neighbour to keep the kittens.
Once you’ve exhausted the above options, you can then contact your local shelter. During kitten season, shelters receive thousands of kittens, and might not be able to take your kittens, however, they can provide good advice. Notice that most shelters and pounds, lack the resources to provide on-site care for so many orphan kittens, and for this reason, they are often euthanized. That’s why if you decide to care for them, you will be their life saviour!
4-8 Weeks Old
At this age, kittens have reached solid food and self toileting age, however they are still likely to be being cared for by their mother, and therefore it is important to check for signs of her.
If mum is not around, they will benefit from being around humans and be socialised. At this age they still need lots of care, gentle handling, lots of enrichment, and they can be fostered/adopted into loving homes, provided their owners understand the responsibilities of caring for a young kitten. As of four weeks of age, kittens can taken to the vet to begin F3 vaccinations, and once kittens are 1.2kg, they can be desexed.
Have a look at our resources below to find useful resources about how to settle them at home and what you need to start the socialisation process.
8 Weeks Old
Kittens are fully independent and can be desexed at this age. Please follow the guide: What to do if you find a cat.
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