03/17/2026
📢 It’s kitten season! That means it's a good time for some helpful reminders and education:
🐾 Found Kittens? Here’s What To Do (And How You Can Save Lives) 🐾
It’s kitten season, and more and more tiny lives are being found outside every day. If you come across kittens, your first instinct might be to scoop them up—but the best thing you can do starts with pausing and assessing the situation.
💡 Step 1: Wait and watch for Mom
Most of the time, mom is nearby. According to guidance from organizations like the Humane Society of the United States, mother cats will leave to find food. Sometimes they will be gone for SEVERAL hours. If the kittens look clean, quiet, and tucked away, watch from a distance for a few hours to see if she returns. You can even set up a camera or sprinkle flower around the next to check for tracks later.
‼️‼️Keeping kittens with their mom is always the safest and healthiest option. Keep an eye on the growing babies and connect with rescues in advance so they will have a place to go as soon as they wean from momma.
🚨 Step 2: When to Step In
Intervene if:
- The kittens are cold, crying nonstop for a long time, or visibly sick/injured.
- The mother has not returned after several hours
- They are in immediate danger (traffic, predators, extreme weather, visible illness)
🍼 Step 3: If You Bring Them In
Very young kittens (under 5 weeks) need round-the-clock care—feeding every few hours, warmth, and help going to the bathroom. This is where rescues and vets strongly recommend getting support right away. The most important immediate step you can take, is to get them warmed up while contacting rescues, shelters and vets. NEVER feed a cold kitten. NEVER feed cows milk.
❤️ Here’s the Truth.
Rescues everywhere are overwhelmed. There are far more kittens than available foster homes right now. That means even when people want to help by scooping up kittens, there simply isn’t space for them to go unless someone steps up.
✨ The Best Case Scenario
If you find kittens that need help, the most life-saving thing you can do is to offer to foster them, even short-term.
Fostering is NOT forever. It’s a temporary commitment until they’re old enough for adoption—and it literally makes room for rescues to save more lives. Many organizations will provide supplies, medical care, and guidance every step of the way.
🐾 You Don’t Have to Be an Expert
Rescues and veterinarians will walk you through everything. All it takes is a safe space, a little time, and a big heart.
💔 Without fosters, kittens are turned away.
💛 With fosters, they get a chance.
If you ever find yourself asking, “What should I do?”—this is it.
You can be the reason they survive.
