Helping Kittens

kittens

Don’t Kit-nap Kittens!

If you find kittens, please assume that their mom will likely return. Please don’t intervene right away.

Many young kittens separated from their mothers are not able to thrive in a shelter.

When people find kittens, good-hearted instincts tell them to rush to the aid of these fragile felines. Thankfully, human intervention is typically not 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 them to remain healthy. If you find kittens and are extremely certain that they are orphaned, you can then step in and help by caring for the kittens until they’re old enough to find homes.

The chart below will help you determine what steps to take if you’ve found kittens.

Helping Stray Kittens

Check out this video on helping kittens and click on links to resources below!

How do I know if a kitten needs my help? What does an unhealthy kitten look like?

Here is an informative flyer with photos (courtesy of Operation Catnip) that helps identify kittens that need help vs. kittens that do not need intervention.

How do I care for a very young, orphaned kitten?

Check out this comprehensive Guide To Orphaned Kitten Care, courtesy of experts at Maddie’s Fund.

How old is my kitten?

Check out this chart (courtesy of Alley Cat Allies) that helps you determine the age of a kitten.

Do you need spay or neuter assistance for kittens or any other pets?

We’re here to help by offering low-cost or no-cost spay and neuter services! Please call 919-942-7387.

I can’t foster these kittens and I can’t find anyone else to foster them. What should I do?

If you are an Orange County resident, please give our shelter a call: 919-942-7387. We will exhaust all of our resources to help these animals. If you are not an Orange County resident, please contact your local shelter or rescue organization.

I would simply like to help kittens at the shelter. What do they need?

  • Have some of their special kitten food shipped to us! Check out their Amazon Wish List for food.
  • You can donate money towards their care by mailing a check to 1601 Eubanks Road, Chapel Hill, NC, 27516. You can also donate online by going to the Community Giving Fund.
  • If you are interested in fostering kittens that are too young to be adopted (or possibly a mother cat and her tiny kittens), please go here.