It may go against everything in your good-hearted instincts to save found kittens, but human intervention is not always required. 

In fact, the best thing you can do is leave the kittens alone. 

Mom will likely return shortly, and it’s critical that the kittens remain in her care as she offers the best chance for survival. 

JOIN OUR KITTEN SEASON ARMY

1. Become a Volunteer or a Foster for kittens not yet weaned.
   
   
2. Drop in our FREE Kitten Training Class every Sunday at 1 p.m. here at our Center. Class ends at 2:30 p.m.
   
   
3. Donate to help us help kittens in need.
   
   
4. Adopt or foster kittens once they are ready for new homes.

Sunday classes are drop-in or you can register in advance Kitten Care training classes. Classes marked as Sold Out remain open to drop-in students. 

Found Kittens

Let our three-step rule below help you assess whether you’re helping or hurting a kitten’s chance of survival:

Step 1 – OBSERVE FROM A DISTANCE – DO NOT TOUCH

The mom may be away hunting for food or moving the kittens – she can only do it one by one -- to or from the place you found them.
Don't assume the kittens are orphans. Observe the nest quietly from a safe distance overnight.

The best thing to do for kittens is to keep their mother with them. Once mom returns, leave them alone.

Step 2 – OBSERVE FROM A DISTANCE – REASONS FOR CONCERN

If the mom has NOT returned in 24 hours since you began observation and the kittens are visibly sick (crusty eyes, dirty), still crying out with no response from mom, it could mean they have been abandoned. 

It could also mean that your presence has scared mom away. Back away and keep observing.

PRO TIP: You can line the area of the kittens with flour or sand to see if any adult footprints are present. Back away and observe.

PRO TIP: If you can count the kittens and the numbers decrease, mom might be trying to move them. Back away, keep a count, and observe.

Please let us know about kittens you are observing.
Fill in this quick form.

Step 3 – After observation - rescue is needed

Once you have completed at least 24 hours of observation -- and you have left the scene to allow mom to come back -- and yet still no mom, you may choose to carefully collect the kittens and bring them to our animal care center. 

To move them, please use a pet crate or sturdy cardboard box and line it with a towel or blanket to keep them warm. When lifting the box or crate, please hold the bottom as you lift and carry.

Count the kittens to ensure you have collected all that you were observing. Count again before you close to crate to confirm you have collected all of the kittens. 

When placed in your vehicle, please secure the transport container with a seatbelt.

We will take in orphaned kittens between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily. We are located at 2750 Monterey Road, San Jose, CA. 

Wait - Shouldn't The Mom Cat Get Spayed?

Yes, that would be the ideal. Curious about how to trap the mom and help her get the spay surgery she needs? 

We have some resources that could help: 

Bay Area Cats - Trapping Tips

Need to talk to someone (every community cat situation is unique)? Join this Facebook group to get access to a wealth of community cats knowledge.

Bay Area Cats Facebook - Community Cat Resources

Local Low-Cost Spay and Neuter Services 

Want to help a mom cat get the spay surgery she needs? While we work toward our new spay-and-neuter program, we hope you'll find these low-cost and local options to be helpful: 

Humane Society of Silicon Valley - Community Cat Spay & Neuter Program hssv.org

Nine Lives Foundation ninelivesfoundation.org

PAWS for SJACS paws4sjacs.org

SNIPBUS snipbus.org

Thank you for any efforts you can make to help control the population of pets in our community. Even sponsoring the cost of one spay or neuter surgery makes a difference. 

FACT CHECK - SHELTER AWARENESS

Every year, we receive thousands of vulnerable kittens that have been stolen from their mothers from good-intentioned members of the public. Collecting kittens you found puts those kittens in a greater life-threatening situation. Please follow our instructions for found kittens detailed above and share it to your neighbors.

See the chart below for the amount of kittens that are typically brought to our shelter in a year, most kittens that come to us are not in need of rescue and they are unnecessarily removed from their mothers. 

DIDN’T FIND A KITTEN BUT YOU WANT TO HELP

Wonderful, we need more people like you in our community. Here are a few ways that you can make a difference during kitten season. 

1. Become a Volunteer. Sign up today for the next Kitten Training class.
   
   
2. Donate to help us help kittens in need.
   
   
3. Adopt or foster kittens once they are ready for new homes.

HOW TO CARE FOR RESCUED KITTENs

Deciding to care for kittens and their mom on your own might be your way to help. We hope that you'll also help to ensure mom gets spay surgery for her own health. Scroll up for information on low-cost spay surgery in the area. 

If you're choosing to care for rescued kittens on your own, we hope these tips help. 

Create your own Kitten Care Kit 

For kittens under six weeks old:
Kitten Milk Replacement (KMR): Designed specifically for a kitten’s nutrition and digestive needs – do not use cow’s milk as it can cause harmful effects (found at most pet stores).

• Feeding Syringe and Bottles: Kitten feeding syringes and bottles are designed to hold the right amount of KMR and fit in the kitten’s mouth.
• Bottle Warmer: A simple alternative is warming a mug of clean water in the microwave in 30 second intervals until warm (not hot), and then warming the bottle of milk in the water.
• Baby Wipes: To stimulate elimination and help keep kitty clean.
• Box or Carrier, and Blankets and Towels: To provide a small, secure area for kitty to feel safe and warm.
• Soft Bristle Tooth Brush: To simulate mama’s licking when comforting and cleaning the kitten.
• Wet Kitten Food: When the kitten is around 4 weeks old you can begin transitioning them to wet kitten food mixed with KMR.
• Warmer: A warm water bottle or rice sock warmer are great options.

For Kittens Six Weeks or Older

MORE RESOURCES

Alley Cat Allies and Bay Area Cats have great resources to help you support your local community cat colony. Need low-cost spay and neuter resources?

The Kitten Lady has videos, webinars, and other resources to answer all your kitten care questions.