Think Again Before you Rescue that Kitten

Click here for a PDF of Alley Cat Allies article

Kittens are hard to resist, epecially those who seem abandoned. Instinct often compels us to pick up these precious babies and dedicate ourselves to finding them homes. Good intentions aside, this is not always in the best interest of the kittens. Depending on the kittens’ circumstances and our time and resources, we have to use our judgment to decide how best to help them.

• Do the kittens have a mother? Don’t assume the kittens have been abandoned. Observe unobtrusively for an hour or two; the mother may be off foraging. Although kittens begin weaning prior to eight weeks of age, they should remain with their mother until then to learn proper behavior and socialization. 
• Is the mother socialized? If there is a mother cat and she is socialized, you may choose to bring the entire family indoors and let her raise the kittens until they are weaned. Once they are old enough, they can be neutered and adopted out. If there is a feral mother, leave the kittens with her outside. Provide shelter, food, and water. When the kittens are eight weeks old, you can bring them inside to begin the socializing process.
• Do the kittens actually need rescuing? Remember, unweaned, orphaned kittens require round-the-clock care until they are fully weaned. And all kittens require socializing before they can be adopted out. Socialization takes time and patience on your part. Typically, the older the kittens are, the longer it will take to socialize them. If the kittens are older and living in a colony, it may be better to leave them outside and use Trap-Neuter-Return. Be sure to see that they are neutered between two and five months of age. Female cats can become pregnant before they are six months old. 

Please also read How and When to Care for and Socialize Feral Kittens. A PDF is available here. Humane Trapping Instructions are available in HTMLand PDF versions.