07/16/2026
If you found kittens by themselves please be aware:
Read this
Please read...and share..we are encouraging community unity..we need to stop the fighting, name-calling, and bashing. Every organization has their own policies put into place based on their mission. We only hurt the animals when we discourage support of organizations. Let's use our time productively by providing education. There is an animal overpopulation problem..there is not even close to enough organizations to resolve this problem...so lets work together to keep the animals safe while we work on bigger solutions.
Lately some rescues and shelters have received negative comments regarding newborn kittens found outside. While we wish we could help every request..it is not possible. Reputable organizations know when they are overwhelmed and unfortunately have to make the difficult decision to say we are sorry..we can't help. When these situations arise..we will offer guidance and support. Many times that means suggesting to leave a newborn kitten where it was found..ONLY if it seems healthy and safe.
Here is an explanation as to why we make these difficult decisions:
Rescues and shelters often advise people to leave healthy-looking newborn kittens where they are found, at least temporarily, because the mother cat is usually their best chance of survival. While it can feel wrong to walk away, there are several important reasons behind this recommendation:
Mother cats frequently leave their kittens alone. They leave for several hours at a time to hunt for food, find water, or avoid attracting predators to the nest. A kitten that appears abandoned may simply be waiting for its mother to return.
A mother cat provides the best care possible. She keeps the kittens warm, nurses them around the clock, stimulates them to urinate and defecate, and protects them. Humans, even experienced rescuers, cannot fully replace that level of care.
Very young kittens are extremely fragile. Neonatal kittens require feeding every 2–3 hours, including overnight, precise formula preparation, help eliminating waste, and careful temperature regulation. Without experienced care, orphaned kittens have a much lower chance of survival.
Shelters and rescues are often overwhelmed. During kitten season, organizations may have more kittens than available foster homes. If kittens can safely remain with their mother, it allows limited resources to be focused on truly orphaned, sick, or injured kittens.
Keeping families together leads to better outcomes. Kittens raised by their mother are generally healthier, better socialized, and have stronger immune systems than kittens separated too early.
When should you intervene?
You should take action if:
The mother has not returned after monitoring from a distance for 6–8 hours (or sooner if the kittens are in immediate danger).
The kittens are cold, crying continuously, injured, or visibly ill.
The mother is known to be deceased.
The kittens are in an unsafe location, such as the middle of a road or somewhere they are at immediate risk.
The best approach..
If the kittens are safe:
Observe from a distance so the mother feels comfortable returning.
Do not handle the kittens unless necessary.
If the mother returns, contact a local rescue about a trap-neuter-return (TNR) plan once the kittens are old enough, so the family can be cared for without contributing to more litters.
This guidance isn't about ignoring kittens in need—it's about recognizing that, in most cases, their mother is their greatest chance of survival, and removing them too soon can actually decrease their chances of living.
We dont make these decisions because we want to...we just don't always have enough resources....
