05/24/2022
We get many calls about people who THINK tiny kittens have been abandoned or rejected by their mother. It can happen, but in most cases, the mama cat is nearby. Please don’t kit-nap prematurely!
Free-roaming female cats often leave their kittens alone for a few hours each day. She may spend time away hunting or searching for a new place to move her kittens. Sometimes the mother cat has simply been scared away by a loud noise and is nearby waiting for a safe return. Although you may not be able to see her, she can see you and will wait until it is all clear to return to the nest. For this reason, it is best to leave the kittens where they are and monitor from a distance. If the kittens are in an unsafe location, it’s okay to move them to a safer area nearby where the mom can easily find them.
If you find neonatal kittens the best thing to do is leave them alone! Mom will most likely come back. If the kittens are content and not constantly meowing, then mom has probably been there recently.
A few ways to know if mom has been caring for them are:
😻 They have full bellies - they have eaten recently if their bellies are slightly firm and round.
😻 The nest is clean - mother cats don’t allow their nests to be overly soiled.
😻 The kittens are warm and content, possibly sleeping and they respond when disturbed.
❗️If the kittens are cold or don’t respond to your touch, they are not healthy and need your help.
Before you do anything, remember—never separate young kittens from their mother cat unless they are in immediate danger. If you don’t see her, monitor the kittens from a distance for a few hours. If the mother returns, know that is the best place for the kittens to be until they get a little older! Kittens are so fragile and mom is the best caretaker for them at an early age.
