I spotted kittens outdoors! What should I do?
The answer to this question depends on a number of factors.
Condition
First, check the condition of the kittens. Do they look clean, active, and well-fed? Or are they lethargic, dirty, injured, skinny, or in clear distress? If it’s the latter, these kittens likely need urgent care.
Also check the conditions that they’re in. Are they sheltered away somewhere safe, away from the sun and rain? Is their mother with them? Do they have a feeder who is making sure they’re fed? If their situation is stable, then you have more time to prepare to help them.
However, if the weather is bad, they are in danger from animals or humans, or their mother does not return to them after several hours, then swift action may be needed.
Age
You will also need to determine how old the kittens are.
If they look like little hamsters with their eyes closed or only partially open, then they’re likely only 0-2 weeks old. At this age, they are extremely vulnerable and cannot do anything on their own. They can’t regulate their own body temperatures nor toilet on their own, so they’ll depend heavily on their mother for milk, warmth, and protection and must be stimulated to pee and poop.
If they look like tiny potatoes with legs but they’re still uncoordinated and wobbly, then they’re probably around 3-4 weeks old. At this stage in life, they’re learning to use the litter box but still depend on their mother’s milk to survive. They will still need to be kept warm as they can’t regulate their body temperature yet and must be fed milk every 5-6 hours.
If they look like small, miniature cats and have teeth already, then they’re probably 6-8 weeks old. They should be transitioning over to cat food, though some may continue to nurse on their mother for supplemental nutrition. At this age, they’re full-fledged kittens and at the tail end of their socialization period. Kittens older than this may be very hard to socialize to humans, so it’s imperative to catch them before this age if you’re planning to find homes for them.
Capability
You might want to immediately help these kittens, but before you scoop up the entire family and take them home, consider your own capabilities.
If the mother cat is around and the babies are still nursing, ask yourself if you are capable of ensuring they all get vet checks and care, caring for the whole family until the babies are weaned, getting the whole family spayed/neutered, socializing the kittens, and ultimately finding responsible new homes for the kittens (and mother, if friendly) through vigorous screening and interviews. If you are, then that’s awesome!
You should always try to catch the mother cat with her babies whether or not they are still nursing, as it is imperative to get her spayed so she’ll stop having litter after litter of babies. If the kittens are still nursing, however, caring for them will be infinitely easier with the mother cat’s help since you won’t need to bottle-feed the babies every few hours. Once you’ve got the whole crew, take them to the vet for check-ups, and check out our guide on how to rehome cats.
If the mother doesn’t return even after many hours of monitoring and the kittens seem abandoned, then consider their condition and age again. If they are sickly or in rough shape, are you capable of financially supporting their vet bills and care? Are you prepared for the emotional roller coaster that may ensue from taking them on?
If they are still dependent on milk, are you able to wake up every 2-3 hours to feed them kitten replacement milk (NOT cow’s milk, as this will give them diarrhea and potentially kill them due to dehydration), stimulate them to toilet, and monitor their weights and health constantly?
As cute as baby kittens are, they’re a huge responsibility to care for without the help of a mother cat. Lapses in care can quickly become fatal for the kittens, so if you don’t think you’re prepared to shoulder such a responsibility, it may be better to contact a rescue for help instead. If you think you’re able to take care of them, then check out our care guide for kittens.
Things to Prioritize:
If the kittens are in critical danger:
Immediately try to find a local rescue that can help you. Many may be overwhelmed and/or not have the resources to take on neonatal kittens, so it may be difficult to find someone who can aid you, but don’t give up!
If you’re unable to find a group that can help, consider trapping and taking the family, even if it’s only temporarily. If the kittens are still nursing, try to catch the mother as well. Even if your home doesn’t allow pets, consider housing the kittens/mother for a few days while you look for help. It may be risky, but it’s worth potentially saving the kittens’ lives. You can check this guide on how to care for orphaned kittens.
If the mother cat isn’t present and you need to remove the nursing kittens from their situation urgently, then make sure you buy some kitten milk replacement from a pet store to feed them with. Also make sure you have something to keep them warm, like a towel-wrapped bottle of hot water or a heating pad.
If the kittens are already weaned, however, you can buy some cat food to keep them fed while you figure out the next step. Convenience stores often have a corner where they sell cheap cat food. The quality isn’t the best, but it’ll do in a pinch if it’s a late-night situation and you can’t find an open pet store.
If possible, immediately take them to the vet for evaluation and care. Kittens are notoriously delicate, and every minute counts when it comes to saving them. Make sure they’re warm and safe while you transport them. If you don’t have a carrier, then you can create a makeshift carrier by zip-tying two small laundry baskets together. In a pinch, a sturdy cardboard box will do as well.
If you weren’t able to catch the mother at first, keep trying, especially if the babies are still nursing. Her care for them is critical, even if she isn’t human-friendly. Even if the kittens have weaned, still go back and try to catch the mother cat and get her fixed so you won’t have to deal with another little of kittens in a few months’ time!
If the kittens are in a stable situation, but you aren’t able to take them on:
Try to find a local rescue that can help you. Many may be overwhelmed during kitten season, but they should be willing to help. Offer to sponsor some of the kittens’ and mother’s care if you’re able to in exchange for their help.
Make sure the babies (and mother) are safe, protected from the elements, and well-fed. Nursing mothers should receive high-calorie kitten food to help her feed all her babies, so provide her with lots of food to keep everyone healthy.
Until you are able to find someone to help, interact with the kittens as much as possible. Exposing kittens to positive human interaction as soon as possible in their lives will make it much easier to socialize and rehome them.
If the babies are mobile, try to pet them, pick them up, and play with them. DO NOT, however, forcibly remove them from their mother, as this will be stressful for everyone involved. If their mother is very defensive, it’s best not to force interaction on her either.