Cat and Kitten Rescue – What To Do If You Find A Kitten
Spring is right around the corner and with it comes new life in many forms. This is when most people go outside to enjoy the warmer weather. While strolling through the park or around your neighborhood you may see baby animals. You might even found one or more newborn kittens. If this sounds unlikely, you’d probably be surprised to know that this happens several times a year in Orange County. This is why kitten rescue exists. Many, if not all of the kittens we have for adoption were found by people just like you.
Is it alone?
If you find a newborn kitten you first need to find out if it’s alone. Most likely there will be more kittens close by. Look in the bushes or other areas around where you found the kitten. Mother cats will move their kittens to keep them safe. This is done one at a time. If you’ve found one, then she probably hasn’t had a chance to move the rest yet.
If at all possible, try to find the mother cat. If this is a house cat, then you can alert the cat’s owner who might not even know that their cat had kittens. If you are dealing with a feral cat, you should always try to trap it. Baby kittens stand the best chance of survival if they have their mother’s milk. If this is a feral situation, you will definitely want to talk with an experienced rescue group before attempting to handle this on your own. Live animal traps can be found at most feed shops.
When a Mothers care is not an option
Sometimes kittens are abandoned by their mother. This might be because the mom was young and inexperienced, she got scared away from her litter or because she decided that something was wrong with them. Unfortunately, sometimes these kittens are too sick to save, although most cat and kitten rescues will do all they can to save them.
If you find one or more abandoned kittens then you need to move fast. Newborn kittens dehydrate very quickly. Depending on their age, they must be fed a high quality kitten formula every one to three hours, both day and night. They must be burped, handled carefully and helped with elimination every time they are fed. They must be kept warm and safe, but not so much that they overheat.
If you or someone you know finds a kitten, please contact an experienced professional immediately for advice. Most veterinarians can offer suggestions on their care. Claws N Paws Day Spa offers pamphlets on the care and handling of newborn kittens. We have over 50 years of combined experience successfully bottle-feeding kittens. Please stop by for a pamphlet today.