It’s not unusual in the springtime for people to come across a litter of kittens whose mother isn’t with them. What should you do? First, do not disturb, touch, or move them! If they look less than 5 weeks old (clues: closed or light blue eyes, clumsy motions) and seem healthy, observe from a distance to see if Mama Cat returns. She might be out hunting or feeding. Her milk is the best food and the kittens need to be with her. But if the mother doesn’t return in several hours and the kittens look scruffy and undernourished, she may be missing. Call HCC for advice!
If kittens are older than 5 weeks (clues: more coordinated motion, eating cat food alongside Mama Cat), they can be weaned if they aren’t already. Call HCC to ask if we can rescue, socialize, and get them adopted as pets. We try to help whenever possible, but it may depend on whether we have fosters available.
If kittens of any age are in danger from predators, starvation, etc., call HCC immediately at 830-598-9883. We give preference to kittens who are in life-threatening situations.
Not sure what to do about kittens you’ve found, or how old they might be? Call us at 830-598-9883. For more information and resources about dealing with found kittens (and community cats in general), visit our Resources page .