Have you ever been in the position of finding a litter of kittens and wondering what to do next?

Nomi Berger 
for Clark County Today

Spring has sprung and love is in the air. It is the time when all the cats are having babies. If a mom cat chooses to bless your property with her bundles of joy, it is best to contact a local cat rescue such as Furry Friends in Vancouver to find out how to proceed with the situation. Keep in mind that kittens will need a lot of care as they go through their first couple months of life.

Have you ever been in the position of finding a litter of kittens and wondering what to do next? To keep or not to keep, that is the question.

Here, then, are some answers — together with more questions.

1. If you find a litter of kittens on or near your property, quickly assess their health. If they appear healthy, watch them, but don’t move them. Their mother is likely nearby. Stay far enough away – several car lengths – that you’re not considered a threat by their mother if she’s feral. If, however, the kittens seem distressed or are very vocal, and if their mother hasn’t returned by the end of the day, she may NOT be returning.

2. Unless they’re in danger, however, it’s best to give their missing mother another chance to return and tend to them. Place them in a carrier or cardboard carton to keep them warm, safe and secure.

3. Try to determine the age of the kittens. Are they newborns with their eyes closed and weighing less than 8 ounces? Or are they 8 weeks old, weighing 2 pounds, and resembling miniature cats? Not to mention every age and weight in between. Each age brings with it a different set of criteria as to their proper maintenance and care. If they’re newborns, contact local rescue groups or no-kill shelters ONLY that may be willing to take them in immediately.

4. Are they feral (part of a colony of cats born to live and survive outdoors) or domestic kittens born to a family’s lost companion cat? Once again, this will determine the steps you take next.

5. If it’s either too hot or too cold outside, raining or snowing, bring the kittens indoors and confine them to a clean, quiet and small room — whether a spare bedroom, bathroom or laundry room. Leave them in their carton or carrier with the door open, and provide them with a high-quality kibble, fresh water and cat litter. If the kittens are too young to feed themselves, you’ll need to bottle feed them every couple of hours. Should you choose this course, contact a local vet or rescue group for advice and guidance.

6. Within a few days, decide whether you want to temporarily foster them, bearing in mind that socializing them as quickly as possible will improve their chances of ultimately being adopted.

7. Although adorable and impossible to resist, kittens do have little claws and sharp teeth. To protect yourself from unnecessary “battle scars”, wear gloves until the kittens grow comfortable with being handled.

8. If you have other pets, keep them separated from the kittens to minimize the risk of their transmitting either parasites or infections to them.

9. To make fostering the kittens easier, speak with the volunteers at the rescue group you’ve already contacted and ask for their advice – on all matters from A to Z.

10. When it’s time for the kittens to “leave the nest,” either contact your vet, one who operates a re-homing center that will welcome yours if there’s room, or the rescue group. Relinquish the kittens into their care where they’ll be spay/neutered, then set on the right path towards finding their fur-ever homes.

By your actions, compassionate and caring, you’ll have not only saved several small lives, but you’ll have shared in an extraordinary experience, one you’re unlikely to ever forget.

About Nomi Berger

Nomi Berger is the bestselling author of seven novels, one work of non-fiction, two volumes of poetry, and hundreds of articles. She is a volunteer writer for Furry Friends in Vancouver, WA and also volunteers her writing skills to animal rescue groups in Canada and the USA.

Who is Furry Friends?

Furry Friends is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit no-kill cat shelter rescue serving Clark County, Washington and adjacent counties. Founded in 1999, we are a volunteer run organization that rescues and adopts out homeless, relinquished, and abused cats. We shelter and care for them as long as it takes to find them forever homes. We provide medical exams, medications, spay/neuter, food, and litter for up to 800 cats each year. Furry Friends is the largest cat only shelter in southwest Washington.

HOW WE ARE FUNDED

Furry Friends depends almost entirely on business sponsorship and private donations to fund an annual operating budget of $450,000. Our major fundraising event is the annual dinner and auction to be held in September each year.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Furry Friends gratefully accepts donations of both money and in-kind goods and services such as pet food, cleaning supplies, medications, and litter. We are always looking for reliable, dedicated volunteers to help us fulfill our mission.

Mission Statement

To care for homeless, relinquished and abused cats by

• Spaying or Neutering;

• Providing medical care and foster placement until permanent, loving homes are found;

• Educating the public regarding the care and responsibility of cat ownership;

• Collaborating with other pet rescue and companion groups to accomplish a no-kill status in the state of Washington; and Furry Friends website at www.furryfriendswa.org or by contacting them at information@furryfriendswa.org or leaving a message at (360) 993-1097.