Orphan Kitten Project at UC Davis

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Orphan Kitten Project at UC Davis For kitten intake inquiries, please email us at [email protected]! Check our Petfinder page to see our adoptable kittens!

OKP is a non-profit, foster-based rescue (we do NOT have a designated facility for kittens) run by vet students. Orphaned and abandoned neonatal kittens are taken in from the community and given a complete physical exam by the project coordinators who are current veterinary students. These kittens are then fostered by a community of volunteers who bottle-raise them in their own homes. The kittens are weaned, vaccinated, FeLV tested, spayed or neutered, and dewormed vaccinations before they are put up for adoption, usually by 10-12 weeks of age. Other Useful Links: https://linktr.ee/orphankittenproject

✨Feline Feature: Granola✨Meet Granola, not only does he go well with yogurt but in your life!Granola is nothing if not a...
10/08/2026

✨Feline Feature: Granola✨

Meet Granola, not only does he go well with yogurt but in your life!
Granola is nothing if not a gentleman: not only is he constantly sporting a very fashionable dark grey tuxedo and a chic pair of white gloves, but he always makes sure to greet his guests with a chatty meow. As a man of high society, Granola is a true food connoisseur- churu a la carte with a canned food consume is the creme de la creme for Monsieur Granola. As any tomcat of good breeding, Granola also enjoys being carried around by his owner and appreciates a first-rate, best-in-show cuddle. He would never admit it, but he does enjoy playing with feather wands and crinkly cat toys just like to common folk. If you’d like to meet this sweet, sophisticated boy, please reach out and help this kitty find his fur-ever home. 

Interested in adopting? Apply here! https://docs.google.com/forms/u/4/d/e/1FAIpQLSenKCEx6kQ-VU9okR7C70MDijsjDHV1VO_7XlBR33tlpsYrUQ/viewform

✨Feline Feature: Bunny! 🐰✨Today’s feline feature is miss Bunny, the partner in crime of our medical Monday kitten from y...
10/06/2026

✨Feline Feature: Bunny! 🐰✨

Today’s feline feature is miss Bunny, the partner in crime of our medical Monday kitten from yesterday. Bunny (and Miffy!) are currently available for adoption - check out our PetFinder for their profiles (link in bio).

Bunny was originally found by a Good Samaritan malnourished, terrified, and infested with fleas and ear mites. With a lot of love care, she has blossomed into a beautiful and silly girl. I mean, just look at her eyeliner. She loves to play with her toys and her feline friends. She can still get a little nervous if you catch her off guard, but when she’s in the mood for it she’s a huge cuddle bug. She has a LOT to say, especially around meal time - but I guess no one ever told her that cats are supposed to sound like, since she tends to make more of a squeak sound than a meow. Bunny would definitely do best in a home with other cats (or adopted as a pair with her bff Miffy). She might do well with a gentle dog, but probably wouldn’t be great with young children.

Medical Mystery Monday: Meet Miffy! Miffy first came to OKP as a crusty, underweight ~6 week old kitten with a mild uppe...
10/05/2026

Medical Mystery Monday: Meet Miffy!

Miffy first came to OKP as a crusty, underweight ~6 week old kitten with a mild upper respiratory infection. Her URI resolved quickly with routine treatment, but her foster noticed that she would periodically have coughing fits, breathe quickly or have a wheezy quality to her breathing, and her lungs sounded louder than normal with a stethoscope. When it was time for her spay we performed chest x-rays.

X-rays showed soft tissue between her heart and diaphragm, as well as a mild bronchial pattern. She was sent over to cardiology for an echocardiogram. Based on her symptoms and imaging, her team believed that a Pericardioperitoneal Diaphragmatic Hernia (PPDH) was the most likely diagnosis. This is a congenital abnormality where a connection between the sac around the heart and the abdomen that allows abdominal contents to move into the chest. Plenty of PPDH cats live a totally normal life, but if they’re showing symptoms we are more inclined to opt for surgical repair to prevent an emergency and improve quality of life.

Miffy was quickly scheduled for a PPDH repair + spay with our Soft Tissue Surgery service. Everything was going smoothly until the surgeons started looking at her diaphragm for the defect - and couldn’t find one! Her diaphragm was intact, meaning that she did not have a PPDH at all. Everyone was shocked, and Miffy’s fancy surgery turned into a routine spay. She recovered very well and we were back to the drawing board.

A few weeks later Miffy went back to the VMTH for further investigation with Internal Medicine. Her x-rays looked very similar to the ones taken previously. On bloodwork, she had mildly increased eosinophils. After much deliberation with radiologists, IM, and the OKP team, we reached our next top differential: feline asthma.

Miffy now receives an inhaled steroid via kitty inhaler twice a day (followed by some Churu for being a good girl). She is doing very well on this treatment protocol and living her best life running around and playing with her best kitten friend Bunny.

Miffy is currently available for adoption (and so is her bff Bunny… just saying)! Check out our PetFinder!! 🐰

✨Feline Feature: Redwood✨🌲Redwood is a very handsome cat who goes everywhere with his tuxedo on. He quickly warmed up to...
10/05/2026

✨Feline Feature: Redwood✨

🌲Redwood is a very handsome cat who goes everywhere with his tuxedo on. He quickly warmed up to his new foster home, exploring every room, crack, and crevice. Redwood loves to follow around the people (or other cats!) he loves for attention. Whether you’re lying in your bed, at your desk, or doing chores around the house, Redwood is likely to be right next to you. He also knows how to entertain himself with any toys he can chase around or scratch at! The quickest way to this kitten’s heart is his stomach, Redwood is a food fiend and quickly begins to fall in love with those who provide him with any food. Expect lots of meowing once he realizes you plan on feeding him! Redwood will purr like a lawnmower the moment you start petting him, and sometimes just while he lounges around. If you’re looking for a playful, affectionate, and adorable kitten, look no further!

Interested in adopting? Apply here! https://docs.google.com/forms/u/4/d/e/1FAIpQLSenKCEx6kQ-VU9okR7C70MDijsjDHV1VO_7XlBR33tlpsYrUQ/viewform

✨Feline Feature: Bean✨Looking for a high-energy sidekick with a big personality? Meet Bean! 🫘Bean is the friendliest, mo...
10/04/2026

✨Feline Feature: Bean✨

Looking for a high-energy sidekick with a big personality? Meet Bean! 🫘

Bean is the friendliest, most social cat you’ll ever meet. He’s brave, curious, and always ready to make a new friend—human or otherwise.

When he’s not busy smacking a ball or toy mouse across the room, Bean’s second favorite activity is cuddling. He loves being pet and held, and he’ll happily soak up all the affection you’re willing to give.

Bean is a fantastic companion, day or night. He might get a little distracted chasing his favorite toys from time to time, but he always stays close, keeping watch nearby so he’s never far from his people.

If you’re looking for a playful, affectionate cat with a fearless spirit and a heart full of love to give, Bean is ready to make you his best friend!

Interested in adopting? Apply here! https://docs.google.com/forms/u/4/d/e/1FAIpQLSenKCEx6kQ-VU9okR7C70MDijsjDHV1VO_7XlBR33tlpsYrUQ/viewform

✨Feline Feature: Patches✨Meet Patches! This sweet boy is the perfect mix of playful and cuddly. He is one of the sweetes...
10/03/2026

✨Feline Feature: Patches✨

Meet Patches! This sweet boy is the perfect mix of playful and cuddly. He is one of the sweetest kittens in his litter and he is always the first one to greet you the moment you step through the door! He does great with both cats and dogs, and his favorite way to end the day is sleeping next to a warm person at night.
He is incredibly playful, very social, and extremely food motivated. He will do just about anything for a Churu treat. Because he has so much playful energy and loves having a companion he would ideally like another animal in the home! This little guy would make the perfect addition to your home.

Interested in adopting? Apply here! https://docs.google.com/forms/u/4/d/e/1FAIpQLSenKCEx6kQ-VU9okR7C70MDijsjDHV1VO_7XlBR33tlpsYrUQ/viewform

✨Feline Feature: Diesel✨Diesel is a bit of a primadonna and is not afraid to make her voice heard! She loves to play and...
09/30/2026

✨Feline Feature: Diesel✨

Diesel is a bit of a primadonna and is not afraid to make her voice heard! She loves to play and eat, but when she’s done, all she wants is to cuddle up next to you and get pets. She loves being the center of attention, and would do well as a solo companion or with other pets. She’s very protective over the people she loves, and is somewhat doglike in that nature. She loves hanging out with her sister MiuMiu, and soft blankets are her favorite thing in the world. She can be a bit shy, but she’s easy to warm up and will be talking to you in no time at all!

If you are interested in adopting Diesel, check out her petfinder: https://www.petfinder.com/cat/diesel-797cfb82-b6db-46e5-b359-86d04df32dc6/ca/davis/orphan-kitten-project-ca449/

✨Medical Monday: Chicken Pot Pie✨Meet Chicken Pot Pie (aka Mr. Femur)! This handsome 2 year old cat was found on the str...
09/29/2026

✨Medical Monday: Chicken Pot Pie✨

Meet Chicken Pot Pie (aka Mr. Femur)!
This handsome 2 year old cat was found on the streets of the Central Valley with an injury to his right hind limb. Originally, the shelter thought he would need an amputation, however Orphan Kitten Project agreed to take him in through the Fracture Program at UC Davis to give him the medical care he needed! Chicken Pot Pie was brought to UC Davis and diagnosed with a fracture of his right femur. Luckily, the amazing orthopedic surgeons at UC Davis VMTH were able to surgically repair the fracture. Since then, Chicken Pot Pie has made a wonderful recovery and is ready for his forever home! Learn more about his adorable and sweet personality below!

Meet Chicken Pot Pie! 🍗
This gray kitty is looking for his forever home! Chicken is a sweet and outgoing kitty  who will melt your heart. He came to OKP due to a broken femur but has quickly recovered. After his injury, he is now left with a cute tendency of sticking his leg out whenever he sits! Chicken is very vocal and active! He loves to roam around the house and often gets the zoomies. When he’s ready to rest, he finds a comfy spot alone but would also enjoy napping and cuddling with you! 
Chicken will do best in a single-pet household. He is very loving and ready for his forever home! 

Interested in adopting? Apply here! https://docs.google.com/forms/u/4/d/e/1FAIpQLSenKCEx6kQ-VU9okR7C70MDijsjDHV1VO_7XlBR33tlpsYrUQ/viewform

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