03/14/2026
😬 “Kitten Season” is already underway…
Every spring, people begin finding tiny kittens outside and want to scoop them up to “rescue” them. But in many cases, the best thing you can do is WAIT.
🐾STEP 1: Don’t grab the kittens right away - Please resist the urge to scoop them up. Removing kittens too soon can actually do more harm than good.
Instead, watch from a distance and wait to see if Mom returns. Mother cats often leave temporarily to search for food and may be hiding nearby waiting for people to leave.
🐾 STEP 2: If Mom DOES return… great!
Now you can help the whole family.
If you'd like to offer food or shelter:
• Place food at least 20 feet away from the kitten nest.
• Food placed too close can attract predators and cause Mom to move her kittens.
• If needed, provide a weatherproof shelter, but again, not right next to the nest. Let Mom decide whether to use it.
By helping from a respectful distance, you'll know where the kittens are when they are around 5-6 weeks old and ready to begin transitioning to canned kitten food and socialization.
Kittens can typically be safely trapped around 5-8 weeks old for taming and adoption.
🚩Most important: Make a plan to spay Mom.
Schedule her TNVR appointment as soon as you see those kittens. Mother cats can go back into heat as early as two weeks after giving birth, so time matters.
When the kittens are old enough to be separated, trap and spay Mom the same day you pull the kittens so the cycle stops there.
🐾 STEP 3: When should you intervene?
If Mom does not return (give her 4-6 hours) or the kittens appear:
• Sick
• Injured
• Cold
• Weak
• Crying continuously
then it may be time to step in.
For help determining kitten age and care needs, visit:
https://www.kittenlady.org/age
More guidance here:
https://www.alleycat.org/take-action/leave-them-be/
💡 Real rescue stops the cycle.
Help the kittens, AND spay Mom or you'll continue to see kittens.
