08/19/2024
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐃𝐨 (𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐃𝐨) 𝐈𝐟 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 𝐊𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧(𝐬)
Before jumping to the rescue,
𝐖𝐀𝐈𝐓…
Mama Cat may be off searching for food. She has to keep herself well fed to produce milk for the babies! It is not unusual for a mama cat to be gone several hours. She may also be in the process of moving the babies from one location to another (especially if you’ve found one alone).
𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬’ 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡:
• Does their fur look healthy, full and fluffy? OR Are they dirty? Sickly? Eyes crusty?
•Are they sleeping quietly? In a heap? OR Are they crying? Squalling?
•Are they dry? OR Are they wet/soaked?
𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭. 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝙄𝙈𝙈𝙀𝘿𝙄𝘼𝙏𝙀 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦:
• Rain? Wet weather/flooding? Cold?
• Wild animals? Dogs?
• Traffic – pedestrian foot traffic? Bicycles or cars? Mean people, neighbours/kids?
Remember that removing very young kittens from Mama Cat greatly reduces their chances of survival even if you provide round-the-clock care.
Unless the kittens are in immediate danger, it is best to watch to see if the Mama Cat will return. You should be at least 35 feet away (more is better).
Do NOT place food near the kittens to lure Mama Cat. Mama Cat almost always purposely hides her litter away from food sources as she knows that food will attract other cats and even bigger predators!
You may need to leave completely and come back later (4-6 hours) to check whether the kittens are still OK (dry, sleeping/quiet, appear fed, etc.). Especially if she’s feral, Mama Cat will most likely NOT return until she no longer senses human presence.
Know that healthy kittens can survive several hours without food as long as they are warm. 𝙉𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙠𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙩 𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙮𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙢𝙞𝙖 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣.
𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐬…
If Mama Cat returns and the area is relatively safe, 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐚𝐦𝐚 𝐂𝐚𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐝. You can monitor the environment and offer a shelter and regular food to Mama Cat … but keep the food and shelter at a distance from each other. Mom will find the food but will not accept your shelter if the food is nearby, because she will not want to attract other cats or predators to food located near her nest.
𝐈𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧…
The Mama Cat offers her kittens the absolute best chance for survival, so WAIT and WATCH as long as you can. The best food for kittens is their mother’s milk.
Although there are resources to help you, it would be best if you are prepared to 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙠𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙖𝙩 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙙𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥 (𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙤𝙧 𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙠𝙨) 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙚!
Oakland Animal Services - https://www.oaklandanimalservices.org/.../find-kittens.../
Lost & Found Pets Of Ottawa And Surrounding Areas