Don’t Kit-Nap Kittens!

Sorry for the language, but desperate times call for desperate measures. For the majority of us, when we see kittens out in the wild, our first instinct is to want to help. While that’s absolutely fantastic, we need to make sure what we are doing is actually in the kittens’ best interest.

The truth is, in NEARLY ALL cases, kittens outdoors do not need to be “rescued.” When you “kit”-nap kittens from their mothers, the reality is, more often than not, this is a death sentence. When kittens are very young (0-6 weeks old) their best chance of survival is with their mom. No matter how great our bottle-feeding foster families are, they can never match a mother cat’s instinctual care for her babies. Kittens also receive important nutrients and antibodies from their moms, and critical socialization skills. These neonatal litters are VERY difficult to care for – they require bottle-feeding and round-the-clock care for a CHANCE to survive without their mom. Many simply “fail to thrive” once they have been taken from their mom. We’ve already had numerous kittens taken from their moms that have died this year, who most likely would have survived if they were left alone. This is absolutely heartbreaking, and emotionally taxing on our staff and foster families fighting so hard to save them.

“Ok, yeah, that’s great. But I don’t think there is a Mom… I haven’t seen her – now what do I do?” If you find kittens outside alone, don’t automatically assume they don’t have a mom. Most of the time you see kittens alone, their mother is likely close by. Leave the kittens alone, and try to figure out (from a distance of at least 35 feet, and preferably inside if at all possible) if mom is still around. Mom is likely out looking for food, is in the process of moving her kittens to another location, or just plain needs a break from the needy babies for a bit! It is not unusual for momma cats to be gone for several hours – and if you are creepin’ on her babies, you may actually be keeping her away! If the kittens appear to be content, have fur that looks healthy (full and fluffy), are not excessively fussing and have plump, full bellies, there’s a very good chance mom is coming back – these kittens do not need your help! If they are in danger due to their location, you can move them to a safe spot nearby so that mom can easily find them when she returns.

If after 12-18 hours there is no evidence of a mom; the kittens are dirty, appear sick, underweight or dehydrated, contact us at 313-943-2697 ext. 6002 and we can help you determine if the kittens are at risk and you should intervene.

For Cats/Kittens During Winter or Inclement Weather Check out Alley Cat Allies’ Winter Weather Tips:

  1. Provide a shelter. This will give cats somewhere to go to get away from snow, wind, and other elements. It’s relatively easy and inexpensive to build your own. You can also get ideas for shelters to buy or make in our shelter gallery. Plus, we have tips about what makes a good shelter and what doesn’t.
  2. Insulate cat shelters with straw—not hay. Straw repels moisture, unlike hay. Cats can burrow into the straw to stay dry and warm. Be sure to keep adding straw throughout the season.
  3. Use a heated bowl for cats’ water and wet food. This will prevent them from freezing. Or, try this hack from Alley Cat Allies staff: Use rubber containers meant for horses. These won’t crack like plastic containers when water freezes in them.
  4. Build a feeding station. This will protect cats’ food and water from wind and snow.
  5. Provide food and water daily. Wet food and water can freeze overnight, so you want to ensure cats have access to fresh food and water every day. Cats eat more in the winter because they’re trying to conserve energy and stay warm. Consider giving them extra food.
  6. Prepare for major snowstorms. In the event a major weather event like snow accumulation is in the forecast, give cats extra food and water in case you can’t get to the colony.
  7. Clear snow from the entrances of cats’ shelters after snowstorms so they don’t get snowed in.
  8. Don’t use salt or chemical melting products to clear snow. They can be lethal when licked off paws or ingested from melting puddles. They are also harmful to cats’ natural snowshoes—their paws!
  9. Keep antifreeze away from cats. Antifreeze is poison. Animals, including cats, find its taste irresistible. As little as a teaspoon of auto antifreeze spilled in your driveway can be fatal for a cat.
  10. Always check under the hood of your car for cats. Before you turn on your car engine, look under your car to make sure the coast is clear, and check to see that no cats have curled up in your engine during especially cold days. Give the hood a few taps to make sure a cat isn’t hiding there.

If you’re carrying out TNR in the winter, keep this in mind: If it’s too cold outside for you, then it’s probably too cold for cats to be in traps, exposed to the elements, for extended periods of time. Keep traps covered and secured in a temperature-controlled vehicle or building.

Donate today and an animal
will thank you tomorrow.

November 15, 2024 to December 31, 2024

Donate Today