Help! I Found Kittens
The warm months of summer are in full swing. Summer brings fond memories of warm beaches and bonfires in Southern California. It also falls right in the middle of kitten season. From April to November kittens seem to be everywhere in Orange County. Outdoor cats are capable of producing litter after litter during the warmer months. They often have these litters in remote locations away from human interference. However, it’s impossible to ignore the crying kittens in your backyard or basement, and eventually unsuspecting homeowners come across a litter of kittens.
It can be difficult to know what to do when you find kittens. We can help you through the process of keeping them safe.
Mother’s Milk is Best
When you find kittens it’s important to try to find the mama cat. A mother’s milk is specially designed for her babies and provides a number of antibodies that protect the kittens against harmful diseases. If at all possible you should try to trap the mother cat. You can rent live animal traps from your local animal shelter. Place a strong smelling food such as canned salmon in the trap and wait. Mama cats are often hungry from nursing and will readily take any food available to them.
Bottle-Feeding Orphaned Kittens
If it’s not possible to catch the mother cat you will need to care for the babies. Bottles and formula can be purchased from your local pet supply. Make sure that the formula you purchase is specially made for kittens. You should be able to buy cans of pre-made formula or powder that can be mixed with filtered water. Feed very young kittens every 1-2 hours both day and night. After feeding, they must be burped and you will need to help them eliminate. Gently rub a warm, wet cotton ball on their genitals until they urinate and defecate.
Never hold a kitten like a baby to feed them. They can asphyxiate which can quickly lead to pneumonia. Hold kittens in a standing position while they nurse.
If you have found kittens and are nervous or unsure what to do, please contact your local veterinarian for advice. Claws N Paws Day Spa has extensive experience bottle-feeding orphaned kittens. Stop by for a brochure on how to care for them.