If you find kittens outdoors, do not pick them up right away. Their mother is often nearby looking for food, and young kittens have the best chance of survival with her. Watch from a distance for a few hours. If the kittens are clean, quiet and sleeping in a pile, the mother is likely coming back. If they are in danger, crying nonstop, dirty, cold or visibly sick, or the mother has not returned after several hours, it is time to step in and contact a local cat rescue or shelter.
"Kitten season" is the stretch from roughly spring through fall when most kittens are born, and it is the busiest time of year for many shelters. This guide explains how to assess found kittens and what to do next.
Step 1: Keep your distance and observe
Mother cats often leave kittens for hours at a time to hunt or find food, and they may avoid returning while people are close. Move well away (at least 30 feet or out of sight) and watch.
| Signs the mother is probably caring for them | Signs the kittens need help now |
|---|---|
| Kittens are clean and plump | Kittens are dirty, wet or covered in fleas or flies |
| Kittens are sleeping quietly in a pile | Kittens are crying constantly for a long time |
| Nest is sheltered and dry | Nest is in danger, such as a road, flooding or extreme heat |
| A cat is seen visiting | No sign of the mother after several hours |
| Kittens are warm | Kittens are cold, weak or have discharge from eyes or nose |
Sprinkling a ring of flour around the nest can help you see whether the mother has walked in and out without your having to watch constantly.
Step 2: Estimate the kittens' age
Age determines what kittens need and how urgently.
| Age | Typical signs | Needs |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1 week | Eyes closed, ears folded, umbilical cord may be visible | Bottle feeding around the clock, warmth, stimulation to urinate |
| 1 to 2 weeks | Eyes opening, ears starting to unfold | Frequent bottle feeding, warmth |
| 3 weeks | Eyes open, ears up, starting to wobble around | Bottle feeding, beginning to explore |
| 4 to 5 weeks | Walking steadily, starting to eat wet food | Transition to wet food, litter box training |
| 6 to 8 weeks | Running, playing, eating on their own | Socialization, vaccines, spay or neuter when old enough |
Young kittens under about 4 weeks cannot keep themselves warm or eat solid food, so they are the most fragile.
Step 3: Decide what to do
- Mother is caring for them: Leave them. Consider offering the mother food and water at a distance, and contact a TNR program to plan spay surgery for the mother and kittens once the kittens are weaned (often at around 8 weeks).
- Kittens are in danger but the mother is around: You may move the nest a short distance to safety, keeping it visible to the mother.
- Mother has not returned and kittens are young: Contact a cat rescue or shelter right away. Many have "bottle baby" programs or can coach you through care.
- Kittens are about 5 weeks or older: They may be socialized and adopted. Ask a rescue about foster or intake options.
- Kittens are sick or injured: Get veterinary help promptly.
Caring for kittens until help arrives
If you must care for kittens temporarily:
- Warm them first. Cold kittens should not be fed. Use a heating pad on low, covered with a towel, under half of a box so they can move away from it.
- Do not give cow's milk. It can cause diarrhea. Very young kittens need kitten milk replacer from a pet store or vet, fed with a kitten bottle.
- Stimulate young kittens to urinate and defecate after feeding by gently rubbing their bottom with a warm, damp cloth.
- Keep them away from your pets until they have been checked by a vet.
- Get guidance. A rescue, shelter or vet can show you how to feed and how often.
Bottle feeding very young kittens is demanding, often every two to three hours including at night, so many shelters train volunteer fosters to do it. See how to foster a pet.
Why not take kittens straight to the shelter?
Many shelters receive more kittens than they can care for during kitten season, and very young kittens are vulnerable to illness in a shelter environment. That is why many shelters ask finders to leave kittens with their mother when possible, or to foster them until they are old enough for adoption. Call before bringing kittens in; many shelters will help with supplies or advice even if they cannot take kittens immediately.
Spay and neuter: preventing the next litter
Cats can become pregnant at a young age and have more than one litter a year, which is why kitten season repeats every year. Trap-neuter-return programs and low-cost spay and neuter clinics are the main tools for reducing the number of litters. See found a stray cat for how TNR works and how much spay or neuter costs for price ranges.
Use the near me page to find animal rescues and clinics near you.