Orphan Kitten Project at UC Davis

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Orphan Kitten Project at UC Davis

For kitten intake inquiries, please email us! OKP is a student run non-profit foster based rescue Other Useful Links: https://linktr.ee/orphankittenproject
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Orphaned and abandoned neonatal kittens are taken in from the community and given a complete physical exam by the project coordinators who are current veterinary students. These kittens are then fostered by a community of volunteers who bottle-raise them in their own homes. The kittens are weaned, vaccinated, FeLV tested, spayed or neutered, and dewormed vaccinations before they are put up for adoption, usually by 10-12 weeks of age.

11/12/2024

🐈 Orphan Kitten Club Highlight! 🥰

Garcia came into OKP as a three week old kitten. Despite having a good appetite and great energy, Garcia showed overall poor growth. Unfortunately, his health started to decline and he started losing energy and stopped eating to the point where we were so concerned, that we rushed him to the ER. On examination, he had a high fever and he had started limping on his right hind limb, where there was some swelling over his hock. The veterinarians working with him were concerned about an emerging bacterial sepsis, a severe, and life threatening systemic infection, and they worked hard to stabilize him on IV fluids, antibiotics, and assisted feeding. Fortunately, Garcia was able to be stabilized in hospital and discharged to us two days later!

Following treatment, he made a full recovery and we are happy to announce that Garcia was adopted by his foster, a vet student who had made such a deep connection to Garcia while he was sick and couldn't bear to part with him! He now wreaks havoc around her household with his older brother 🥹

We are extremely grateful to Orphan Kitten Club for helping us pursue treatment for Garcia and getting him back on track to being a normal, happy, playful kitten. We are also extremely grateful to our UC Davis VMTH Emergency department for their compassionate care and treatment of Garcia!

Check out to learn more about this life-saving organization! 🐾

11/08/2024

✨FELINE FEATURE: Zegna and Cifonelli✨

These adorable brothers are a bonded pair and looking to find a fur-ever home together ❤️

Zegna is a very curious and food motivated boy! You’ll often wake up and find him staring out the window in the mornings. Although it might take him a few days to warm up to you, once he does, he will follow you around everywhere! He will tag along while you are working, showering, making dinner, folding laundry - anywhere you go, he goes! Zegna also loves to play. You will often see him chasing his toys and hiding them from his brother. His favorite is chasing his feather toy and chasing after Temptations treats! Once play time is over, Zegna will curl up on the bed, his favorite chair, or on top of your favorite pair of shoes. If his brother is around, he will snuggle right next to him too! Zegna is never scared to ask for pets when he wants them! He uses his big boy voice and will make sure you know he is ready for some loving! 🥰

Cifonelli is the sweetest boy. A little shy at first, but once he gets comfortable in your home, your bed will be his favorite place, especially if you're there with him! He loves playing, but he loves napping even more. You can often find him on the couch, on top of a desk, in a hamper, in clean laundry, hiding in pillows, on a window sill - he truly naps everywhere. Much like his brother, Zegna, he is very curious! Cifonelli likes looking out the window, going through boxes, peaking in the fridge, and seeing what you are up to on the computer! Also, Cifonelli is the butt-scratch and belly-rub king! A few minutes of attention and he will purr in your lap all day long. And don't expect to be going to the bathroom alone, Cifonelli must chaperone. He will meow to let you know you’ve forgot to let him enter. Cifonelli loves to play with his brother Zegna and often their play fights end in the cutest fur pile group nap 🐾

If you are interested in adopting this pair, check out their Petfinder page: https://www.petfinder.com/cat/zegna-and-cifonelli-bonded-pair-71850716/ca/davis/orphan-kitten-project-ca449/

11/04/2024

✨FELINE FEATURE: Cloudy, Foggy, and Starbucks✨

This adorable family is looking for their fur-ever home, either all together or adopted separately! Cloudy and Foggy are Starbucks' adorable kittens and would love to be adopted together, but can find separate homes ❤️

Cloudy is a very sweet boy who likes to play with shoe laces and sit in the sink or any kind of box. 🌨 He is especially curious of bugs and he mostly enjoys sitting and watching you go about your day! Overall, he is a sweetheart and a wonderful companion to have in your life 🥰

Foggy is a very playful and friendly boy and loves all people! 🌫 He likes to run around and is really energetic. When he gets happy, he sometimes gives sweet love nibbles on your hand or licks your arms. In general, he is a very playful and friendly kitten! ❤

Starbucks (white and grey) is an absolute treasure to have around! She is a bit quiet, but when you pet her for a while, she has the sweetest purr. She likes to follow you around and see what you're up to 👀 She really likes sleeping in a sunny spot and would enjoy any home with loving owners and a sun spot! 🌞

If you are interested in adopting any or all of these cuties, check out their Petfinder pages: https://www.petfinder.com/cat/cloudy-72327324/ca/davis/orphan-kitten-project-ca449/

https://www.petfinder.com/cat/foggy-72327294/ca/davis/orphan-kitten-project-ca449/

https://www.petfinder.com/cat/starbucks-72327283/ca/davis/orphan-kitten-project-ca449/

10/31/2024

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM OKP! 👻🎃

What's a cat's favorite Halloween candy? Kit-Kats! 🍬🐈

Wishing everyone a furr-tastic and purr-anormal Halloween! If you're looking to find a spooky friend for the holidays, check out our adoptable and sweet black cats on Petfinder ❤️ Black cats are frequently overlooked due to their associations with Halloween and witchcraft, but are actually considered lucky in some cultures! 🍀

Featured kittens in order: OKP alums Olive and sibling, Ember, Squash, Apple, Mavis, and Olive (currently not adoptable)

10/29/2024

Happy National Cat Day from OKP! 🐈🥰

We are so grateful to be able to provide care to so many community kitties and find loving homes for these amazing animals 🐾

Since February, OKP has taken in 274 cats! We currently have a little over 100 kittens in our care, all taken care of by our amazing fosters and vet student coordinators. From 2023-2024, we saved 394 cats from the streets and found loving homes for a huge percentage of them! We love our silly, loving, incredible furry friends and we are so lucky to be able to work with the Davis community to save so many lives ❤

Please consider donating to our Venmo (-OKP) or adopting one of our kittens to help us continue our mission of saving these wonderful creatures ❤️

Featured: Squash, Zucchini, and Apple (fluffy Tabby siblings), Orion (black 2 month old kitten), Fuji (black and white), Nikon (Tuxedo), and Kodak (brown Tabby)

10/28/2024

🩺 Medical Monday!💉

This week we are highlighting sweet Carrot! 🥕

Carrot is a two and a half month old ball of fluff and purrs! Carrot came to us when he was about 7 weeks old and was growing much slower than his siblings. He demonstrated some classic signs of congenital hypothyroidism including a flat head, short limbs, and delayed growth. A blood test confirmed that this little guy has congenital hypothyroidism.

We placed him with a foster and started thyroid medication, and a recent blood test confirmed the meds have normalized Carrot's thyroid levels! He is growing more and more every day and is keeping up with his siblings in their wrestling matches. Swipe through to see his growth journey! 🥰

To support the care of Carrot and the other 103 kittens in our rescue right now, please consider a donation to our Fall Fundraiser on GoFundMe! The link is in our bio ❤️ We couldn't do what we do without you!

https://gofund.me/7339a5ed

10/25/2024

✨FELINE FEATURE: Java Chip✨

Meet Java Chip, an affectionate and charming 5-month-old kitten with a striking black tabby coat! This handsome little guy will quickly steal your heart with his love for belly rubs and constant purring when you're around. Though he may take a bit of time to warm up to new people, once he does, he’ll be the most loyal and loving companion you could ask for. 🥰

Java Chip adores playtime and is always ready for a fun game or two. He’s also great with other cats and dogs, as long as introductions are done slowly and carefully. He has brought so much joy into his foster mom's life with his sweet nature, and now he's looking for his forever home! ❤

If you're interested in adding this affectionate and playful kitten to your family, check out his Petfinder page: https://www.petfinder.com/cat/java-chip-72327383/ca/davis/orphan-kitten-project-ca449/

10/23/2024

✨FELINE FEATURE: Appa✨

Appa is one of the sweetest, most loving kittens you'll ever meet! He loves people, even strangers, and would love nothing more than to curl up in your lap. He loves being picked up and held like a baby and will show you his sweet rumbly purr and exquisite air biscuits 🥰

During our routine viral screening, Appa tested positive for FIV. Unlike other diseases, cats with FIV can live full lives without ever suffering from FIV-related illness. Appa would be perfect for a home without other cats, or with FIV+ only cats. FIV is not contagious to humans, dogs, or other animals. Check out this link to learn more: https://www.humanesociety.org/news/fiv-positive-cats

Appa will be at our upcoming adoption event at Pet Food Express on October 26 from 10-11:30. As soon as you meet him, we know you'll fall in love! ❤

If you are interested in adopting Appa, check out his Petfinder page: https://www.petfinder.com/cat/appa-73019760/ca/davis/orphan-kitten-project-ca449/

10/21/2024

🩺 Medical Monday!💉

Meet our newest warrior cats: Moira Rose and David! 🐈

Moira was brought in by a good samaritan to the UC Davis ER last week with her four newborn kittens. While we do not know much about her background, we assume Moira was likely living as a community cat and unfortunately had contracted Panleukopenia (Parvo) before arriving. This virus is prevalent among outdoor cat populations and poses a huge risk for young, unvaccinated kittens in particular. Sadly, three of Moira’s kittens declined over the following days and did not survive. Now in foster, Moira is feeling better everyday, and slowly starting to trust us more!

Her remaining kitten, David, is a few weeks old now and free of infection. So far, he is thriving in foster care! He has doubled in size since arriving and is showing no signs of illness. David Rose already has loads of personality and opinions, much like his name sake. Since mom got sick, she has been unable to produce milk, so we are bottle feeding David around the clock. This guy LOVES meal time and especially loves his post meal milk drunk belly rubs. Today David’s eyes are just starting to peep open, giving him his first glimpse of the world. We can already tell he’s going to be troublesome! 🤪

While kitten season is finally starting to let up a bit, we are still getting kittens in through our ER almost daily. We are always in need of support to help provide crucial medical care. Please consider donating to our Venmo (-OKP) to help ensure we can keep our doors open to these vulnerable animals with no other options! 🥰

10/18/2024

Boo! 👻 It's almost Meow-lloween, so please join us next Saturday for our Fall Adoption Event to meet some purr-fectly adoptable kittens! 🐈‍⬛ We will be at Davis Pet Food Express from 10am-1pm with plenty of kittens for you to meet. Scan the QR code to see some of the adoptable kittens that will be there that can't wait to be your newest family member 🥰 We can't wait to see you there! 🎃

10/16/2024

✨FELINE FEATURE: Frog and Toad✨

Frog (white and orange) and Toad (calico) are your typical curious, fearless kittens with boundless energy! 🐸 We would love to see them go to a home together as they are pretty much connected at the hip and do everything together! Their favorite toys are any mouse or ball toys that they can bat around. Their favorite activity by far though is chasing and wrestling each other around the room. They will also definitely tell you when it is time to eat per their cute little meows by the food bowl. While for the most part independent, they are very sweet kittens that purr when pet or held. Toad especially loves being cradled like the baby she is 🥰

They would get along well with mellow or older dogs and would need a slow introduction to any children in the household. They would probably do well with other cats too!

If you are interested in adopting Frog and Toad, check out their Petfinder page: https://www.petfinder.com/cat/frog-and-toad-bonded-pair-73454061/ca/davis/orphan-kitten-project-ca449/

10/14/2024

✨FELINE FEATURE: Truffle✨

Meet Truffle, the purr-fect blend of curiosity, playfulness, and unabashed adoration for people! This little ball of fur was discovered next to a mushroom patch on a rainy day, which only adds to her charm and charisma. 🍄 Truffle loves her people and likes to be picked up, snuggle with you under the blankets, or take a nap on the pillow next to your head. Whether she's chasing spring toys or weaving through a maze of legs, Truffle's playful antics will keep you laughing and loving every moment. When she's especially worn out from playing, Truffle will blep in her sleep- and sometimes she’ll forget to put her tongue away after waking 😋

Truffle is good with other cats and warmed up quickly to her foster sister Falin. She would do especially well in a house with other kitties to keep her entertained! 🥰

If you're interested in adopting Truffle, check out our Petfinder page: https://www.petfinder.com/cat/truffle-71713408/ca/davis/orphan-kitten-project-ca449/

10/11/2024

✨FELINE FEATURE: Falin✨

Meet Falin of the Dungeon Meshi litter! Falin, born at the end of March 2024, is a sweet and personable kitten. She is very relaxed when held and enjoys pets, snuggles, toe bean massages, and lap time. She spends lots of time lying about and relaxing, but she also loves to chase spring toys with her foster sister Truffle. She is also very athletic and loves to show off how high she can jump for string toys and get to the top of her cat tree 🐾

Falin loves to snuggle at bedtime and really enjoys being around her people. If she’s looking for you around the house, she might call out to you with curious chirps and mews. She does great with both older cats and younger kittens, but please note that due to her submissive nature, she might not do well with a particularly dominant personality. Come meet her and Falin love! ❤️

If you're interested in adopting Falin, check out our Petfinder page: https://www.petfinder.com/cat/falin-72069786/ca/davis/orphan-kitten-project-ca449/

10/09/2024

As this overwhelming Kitten Season starts winding down, we wanted to take a moment to talk about where all these kittens come from! 🐈

Every year, shelters and rescues are flooded with kittens brought in by well meaning samaritans. Sometimes these kittens need medical attention. Other times they are healthy and mom has gone off to eat, giving the impression they were abandoned. In both scenarios the root cause is same: unaltered outdoor cats are repeatedly reproducing with great success. In most cases, nothing is done to address the larger issue. When kittens are removed, that mother cat will become pregnant again in a matter of weeks. This cycle repeats itself over and over, straining the limited resources of rescues, and allowing the overpopulation crisis to spiral. This is why TNR is so important. Trap-Neuter-Return is the process of humanely capturing free-roaming cats, spaying/neutering, then releasing them back to their community. TNR is the ONLY method shown to humanely and sustainably reduce the population and produce healthier, more stable colonies.

We had the opportunity to witness a successful full circle TNR moment last week. When kittens Matcha, Oolong, and Jasmine appeared on a her doorstep, the feeder immediately attempted to identify the mother before intervening. This is important because once you remove kittens, Mom often takes off and becomes difficult to capture. Once identified, the feeder was able to safely trap the kittens and schedule a TNR appointment for Mom. She also trapped who we assume is Dad (or at least a Dad) in this colony. Both adults were sterilized, vaccinated, ear tipped, and returned the next day. They are free to continue living as community cats but will no longer be contributing to overpopulation.

Anyone can participate in TNR. Traps can be purchased easily and there are many resources online to help you get started. Most shelters offer TNR services by appointment. We desperately need more people to get involved if we want to tackle this issue at the source. Please don't wait until you find kittens to get the cats in your neighborhood fixed. If you do find kittens, ensure it's the last litter. Help stop the cycle and be part of the solution! 🫶

Further resources: https://www.alleycat.org/community-cat-care/
https://www.neighborhoodcats.org/how-to-tnr/getting-started/what-is-tnr
https://www.sspca.org/post/feralcommunity-cat-program

10/04/2024

Want to have some delicious pizza while also saving orphaned kittens? Stop by Blaze Pizza in Davis on October 7th and show this flyer, or order online using the code 1060A! Unfortunately, the fundraiser is only active at the Davis location, but please share with all your Davis cat lovers! 🥰🐈 Thank you for helping us help kittens ❤️

10/02/2024

✨FELINE FEATURE: Raspberry✨

Meet Raspberry of the Berries litter, the handsome and sweet kitten who loves to learn new things! With his striking looks and inquisitive nature, Raspberry is always eager to explore and discover. Once he finds a toy he likes, he can entertain himself for hours, but his favorite playmate will always be his human companion! 🥰 He is great with other cats and dogs (large and small breeds). His playful spirit and affectionate demeanor make him the perfect addition to any loving home. If you're looking for a devoted and intelligent kitten to share endless fun and companionship with, Raspberry is the one for you. Adopt Raspberry today and let his charm and playfulness brighten your life! 🍓

If you're interested in adopting Raspberry or his siblings, check out our Petfinder page: https://www.petfinder.com/cat/raspberry-72106260/ca/davis/orphan-kitten-project-ca449/

10/01/2024

Help us be able to help more kittens! OKP is in need of more supplies to ensure all our kittens have what they need to thrive 🥰 If you're able, please order some items off our Amazon or Chewy wishlists, particularly the ones marked as high priority. You can access our wishlists through the QR codes or through our Linktree (in our bio and on our website). If you are unable to purchase items at this time, please consider donating to our Venmo -OKP ❤️ Every bit helps and we couldn't do what we do without your help! 🫶

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/62TVTFXW3QAM/ref=cm_go_nav_hz

https://www.chewy.com/g/orphan-kitten-project-at-uc-davis_b67632998?utm_source=partnerize&utm_medium=shelters&utm_campaign=1100l128788&utm_content=0&clickref=1100lyhPYgrc&utm_term=1100lyhPYgrc

09/30/2024

✨FELINE FEATURE: Blueberry✨

This little bundle of joy has a sweet disposition and an irresistible charm! 🫐 Blueberry loves human touch and transforms into a purr machine the moment you start petting him. He is a little shy at first, but good with people and other dogs/cats once he gets to know them! His playful and inquisitive nature ensures that every day with him is filled with delightful surprises. If you’re looking for a cuddly, affectionate companion who will greet you with boundless joy, Blueberry is the perfect match for you! 🐈

Blueberry and his siblings were found at 6 weeks old with moderately severe upper respiratory infections, but are now fully recovered. Due to the infection, Blueberry's 3rd eyelid doesn't fully retract in his left eye, but that has no effect on his health or happiness! 🥰

If you are interested in adopting Blueberry or his siblings, check out our Petfinder page: https://www.petfinder.com/cat/blueberry-72603493/ca/davis/orphan-kitten-project-ca449/

Address

Davis, CA
95616

Website

http://orphankittenproject.org/

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Videos

A shadow or a silly kitten sleeping in a crevice? *Not pictured: two plush cat beds 🤦🏻‍♀️

Update on Horse! A little wobbly, but Horse is making great strides to meet her foster’s cat, an OKP alum, named Mom. She’s doing much better now since her aspiration pneumonia diagnosis and slowly exploring the big world that is the living room!

Spellbound by the lure of the wand🪄 Tommie, Bonnie, and Cammie came to OKP when they were about 9-10 weeks old. They were initially very, very scared - even just a sneeze would cause these kittens to scamper away. After weeks of patience and TLC, these kittens have started coming out of their shell and acclimating to their foster’s touch. They’re currently available for adoption and would be best fit for a home that understands that they're just a bunch of scaredy cats!😂

A proper latch accompanied with some suckling ASMR! 🥰 With kitten season in full swing, OKP wants to say thank you to all our fosters who dedicate their time and energy into keeping these kitten healthy!! We can't do this without you!

This morning’s adoption event!

Here is a very exciting kitten case from earlier this year! Little Pikachu! Pikachu has moderate to severe Cerebellar hypoplasia which affects his ability to balance and walk. He was an OKP bottle baby and we would sit him upright in a flowerpot after feedings to avoid regurgitation. He is a super determined and energetic little dude who has been able to adapt to his issues well but still needs some help with daily activities. He was 'foster failed' aka adopted by his foster - who is one of our OKP officers!💖 See more cute throwback pictures of baby Pikachu on our fundraiser page! Linked here: https://www.facebook.com/donate/561508509119403/455626160051478/ It is thanks to all of our generous supporters that we can help special cases like Pikachu to thrive and find the perfect forever home 😸 Reminder that through the end of today, all donations for Giving Tuesday will be matched up to the first $1000! We are making great progress so far... lets get to that 1K mark!❤️

Thank you for all the support for Jupiter so far! Here is a little update of our sweet boy at the hospital! You can see he has an apetite and is in good spirits ❤️ We are still trying to fundraise for his hospital stay! Please share or donate if you can, anything helps! https://www.facebook.com/donate/1153520245274025/

A sneak peek into the joys of being a kitten foster! 😅 Jokes aside, being an OKP foster is a blast! We supply you with food, litter, toys, playpens, and the kittens! So far this season we have taken in almost 300 kittens - that's a lot of foster families! We receive kittens of all ages and levels of care, feel free to check our website for our foster application or message us with any questions❤️

Marbles is here to bring you some adorable kitty playfulness. You could experience this joy daily, Marbles would love to become friends with you! Apply now before someone scoops him up!

Our sweet girl Chi is thriving in her foster home! Despite being paraplegic, she absolutely loves playing (and listening to music😅). We have several special needs kiddos, like Chi, becoming available for adoption soon! Chi is unable to use her back legs and is incontinent, so she will need some extra help in the bathroom department! She is such a sweetie and we cant wait for her to find a loving forever home!❤ Please email [email protected] for more info on this cute girl!

We have taken in a wobbly litter recently at OKP! These kiddos have Cerebellar Hypoplasia which is a fairly common condition in cats. This happens when the cerebellum of their brain, which controls balance and fine motor skills, doesn’t develop properly. This leads to uncoordinated walking that can vary in severity from cat to cat. CH is not contagious or painful! These kitties can live long happy lives, and will adapt to their wobbly-ness as they get older. Some kitties with CH may require some modifications such as elevated dishes or pet stairs around the house. Here are some other incredible kitties with #CerebellarHypoplasia @murphy_pip_indy_lucy @phoebe_the_ch_kitty @timmyhighjinx Info from: www.VCAhospitals.com