So you found kittens outside…

The vast majority of cats are born outside, so the chances of finding kittens while caring for community cats is almost certain. Instincts may tell you to jump in right away and rescue the kittens, but this could be detrimental to the kittens’ health. Instead, take time to wait and observe the kittens, look for the mom, and come up with a plan.

Condition

When encountering kittens for the first time it is important to evaluate their condition before intervening. If a kitten appears in good condition, it is very likely that it has a mother cat caring for it.

Good

A kitten in good condition will be clean, appear well-fed and groomed, and show no immediate signs of distress. It is likely that the kitten may be with its littermates. The mom cat is probably out hunting or resting away from her kittens. Wait to intervene and check back in 5-6 hours.

Not so good

A kitten in bad condition may be dirty, covered in urine, feces, or fleas, underweight, and in distress. The kitten may be alone and not with its littermates. Monitor the kittens from afar for 1-2 hours and only intervene if the mom cat has not returned.

Age

Kittens 0-4 weeks old have the best chance of survival if they are kept with their mom. If mom’s nest is located in a relatively safe, quiet, and dry location it is best to keep mom and babies outside together. If the kittens or mom appear to be unhealthy and/or their outdoor home is dangerous, they can be trapped and cared for together in a foster home.

Many shelters do not have resources available for mom and baby fosters so check with your shelter before removing the family from outside!

Alley Cat Allies’ resource, How old is that kitten? has information about kitten development, from neonate to adolescent.

Newborn

Kittens are born with their eyes and ears closed. They cannot stand or move around easily and they cannot regulate their body temperature. The kitten’s umbilical cord will eventually fall off around 2-5 days old.

0-1 Week

A kitten’s eyes will still be closed at one week old. The eyes will begin to open around 8-12 days old. Their ears will begin to open around seven days old. Kittens this age rely on their mom to stimulate them in order to go to the bathroom.

2-3 Weeks

At two weeks old a kittens eyes should be fully open and will be bright blue. Their vision is still developing. Kittens will be wobbly on their feet and can not move very far from their nest.

3-4 Weeks

A kitten’s teeth will begin to develop between 3-4 weeks. Kittens may begin to be interested in food and it is safe to introduce wet food. They may be moving around more and playing with their littermates. Their eyes will still be blue at this stage.

As kittens get older they will rely on their mom less. You may start seeing kittens out and about around five weeks old. Though these kittens may be more independent than younger kittens, it is still important to evaluate the situation before interfering.

4-5 Weeks

Kittens 4-5 weeks old may still have their blue eyes or their color may have started to change. If found alone at this age, these kittens should be brought inside. If found with their mom it is best to keep them outside for a few more weeks.

6 Weeks

Kittens six weeks old will be very active and playful. If fostering, exposure and interactions with people are crucial at this age. If the kittens are outside with mom it would be a good time to bring them inside. Be sure to spay the mom cat as soon as possible in order to prevent more kittens being born outside.

7-8 Weeks

Most kittens 7-8 weeks old will be able to be fully weaned. They will be rambunctious and play most of the time while awake. If you only have a single kitten, consider another similarly age kitten to pair together since this helps them learn appropriate kitten behaviors and gives them a buddy. The socialization window begins to close starting at eight weeks.

9-10 Weeks

Kittens found outside at 9-10 weeks may be fearful of people, hiss or try to swat you, or hide in small spaces. These kittens are typically described as “spicy” and socialization is extremely important. These kittens may take more time to warm up to you and it is possible some may not.

Situation

Safer Conditions

Consider waiting and delaying intervention in the following situations:

  • Mom cat is present

  • Cats have a safe, clean outdoor home away from busy streets and traffic

  • Weather is forecasted to be mild for the next few weeks

  • Cats have a dedicated caretaker who is willing to feed at least once a day and keep you updated when kittens reach 5-6 weeks old

Unsafe Conditions

Intervention may be needed in the following situations:

  • Kittens appear sick and/or in distress

  • No dedicated caretaker or caretaker is unable to adequately care for mom and babies

  • Location is dangerous or unsafe

  • Weather is anticipated to be bad for the next few weeks

Ability

The goal is to give the kittens the most positive outcome while still working within your means and capacity. You should always take into account your personal experience and access to resources before decided to remove kittens from the street. Before removing kittens, ask yourself:

  • Are you willing and able to provide a safe foster home for the kittens for 8-12+ weeks?

  • Are the shelters and rescues in your area currently accepting kitten intakes? What about neonatal kittens (0-4 weeks), mom and babies, and undersocialized kittens?

  • Will you be able to get the kittens spayed/neutered when they are of age and find them adoptive homes?

Need More Help?

Have kittens made their way into your backyard or you’ve rescued a solo abandoned kitten? The organizations below have extensive information to help you provide the best care and support to kittens born outside. Need even more help? Reach out to Full Circle Cats at help@feralchange.org or submit an online help request form.