Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, LA Animal Services recently put out a memo that they are unable to take underage kittens who currently need to be bottle fed, stray cats, or community/feral cats. There are other shelters currently too overwhelmed to take on baby kittens. So what should you do if you find a baby kitten in your backyard or neighborhood?
One of the biggest mistakes people make when finding stray kittens in their backyard is moving them away from where mom left them.
Here are some simple tips from LA Animal Services :
- If you see tiny kittens in your yard, DO NOT TOUCH until you have observed them!
- If the kittens are clean, plump, and sleeping quietly, there is a good chance that they have an attentive mom. If they are dirty, crying continuously, and have a soiled nest, they may be orphans and need your help.
- If mom does not return within a few hours, then you can handle and start caring for the kittens. Your other option is find a local rescue group who have experienced kitten feeders in their midst, reach out to all your local cat rescues by searching them on Instagram or online. NJ-based All Humane Animal Rescue may be able to help if you’re in the NY-NJ areas.
Photo by Kym Ellis on Unsplash
Caring for Baby Kittens in Your Home:
- If you are able to care for these kittens in your home, LA Animal Services has an online manual to help you get started. View the manual by clicking here.
- This kitten foster manual goes over all of the basics, as well as how to prep your home for kittens, and what to look out for to keep them healthy.
- LA Animal Services Centers are currently waiting for bottles, kitten formula, and kitten food that they will make available to you if you need help to feed and care for these animals in your home. Simply reach out to them.
Now that YOU have been a “Kitten LifeSaver”, when the kittens are around 8- weeks-old (or 2 pounds), please contact LA Animal Services to get vouchers to get these little ones spayed or neutered for FREE in Los Angeles, or Friends Of Animals to get low-cost certificates in any State. Do this first before you find homes for them so they will not be left to produce more kittens who may be orphaned or abandoned without a “Kitten LifeSaver” like you to help them.
cover image by Sindy Strife on Unsplash