Posted on April 30, 2020 at 4:29 PM by Lori Calvery
Due to the COVID-19 virus, CCAS is unable to accept healthy cats and kittens (including unweaned kittens) at this time. Although it is not ideal or popular, at this time we are asking the public to leave found animals in place, as they may already be close to home and found by their owners. As kitten season is now upon us, we understand that there may be people who have questions about what to do if they find stray kittens in their community. To help, we are sharing this article from Best Friends Animal Society about what to do if you find stray kittens while we are ordered to shelter at home.
They’re cute, cuddly and desperately in need of your help. Or are they?
If you happen upon a litter of tiny kittens outdoors, it’s natural to want to scoop them up and try to care for them yourself or take them to a shelter. But both of those options may actually place them in more danger. To give newborn kittens the best chance of survival, follow these steps:
- Leave the kittens alone and try to figure out if their mom is still around. Observe them from a distance every couple of hours for 12 to 18 hours. If the kittens seem content and are not fussing, there’s a good chance their mom is coming back.
- If the kittens are in danger due to their location, move them to a safer spot nearby so the mom can easily find them when she returns.
- If the kittens are dirty, meowing or appear sick, underweight or dehydrated, contact your local shelter, rescue organization or a trap-neuter-return (TNR) or community cat program. They can help you determine if the kittens are at risk and if you should intervene.
- If you spot the mom, leave the kittens alone.
If you have questions about stray cats or kittens in your community, CCAS staff are here to help answer your questions. Just give us a call at 925-608-8400 or email us at [email protected].