What to Do if You Find a Litter of Kittens

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If you find a litter of kittens in your backyard or in a vacant lot, Angus & Friends may be able to help you place them in foster homes and get them adopted.

There are two main factors that determine our ability to provide assistance – the age of the kittens and how well socialized they are. Generally, Angus & Friends is able to help place kittens who are 8 weeks or older and friendly with humans. 

Kittens younger than 8 weeks require a commitment of time and energy that, unfortunately, Angus & Friends is unable to provide due to our limited resources. (Note: As a rough guide, kittens who are 8 weeks old generally weigh about 2 pounds, are playful and coordinated, and are eating solid food confidently.)

Kittens need to interact with people at a young age in order to be socialized to humans. Typically, if kittens are not socialized by 8 weeks of age, they will be afraid of people and not good candidates for adoption. While it is possible to socialize these older kittens, it takes a significant amount of time and effort. Again, unfortunately, Angus & Friends does not have the capacity to provide the services these cats require to become accustomed to humans and prepare for adoption.

If you believe the kittens you have found meet these two criteria, please text our Director, Deborah MacDonald, at 510-909-4961.

Other Guidelines/Recommendations for Helping Kittens You’ve Found

If Angus & Friends is not able to assist the litter of kittens you’ve found, here are some things to consider and recommendations for ways you can help them:

   1. Are they ill or injured? If the kittens appear to be ill or injured, take them to a veterinarian as soon as possible. You also may want to contact a local rescue or shelter to see if they can help.

   2. Are they 8 weeks or older? 

     a) Yes - Kittens who are 8 weeks or older and friendly, are good candidates for adoption. If you are able, provide a foster home for them and contact a local rescue, like Angus & Friends, or shelter to see about help getting them adopted. If you cannot foster the kittens, the rescue or shelter may be able to place them in foster care. 

        Help Mom - You also can help the kittens’ mother. If she is friendly, she can be fostered and adopted. If she is not socialized to humans, you can help by contacting your local shelter or rescue to see if they have a TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) program.

     b) No - If the kittens are under 4-5 weeks, they likely are not yet weaned and it’s best to leave them where they are and let their mother care for them until they are older. You can help by monitoring the family and providing a warm, dry shelter, as well as food and water. Once weaned, you can provide or find a foster home for them where they can be socialized and readied for adoption at 8 weeks or so.

   3. Is their mother with them? 

     a) Yes - If the kittens’ mother is with them, leave them with her. She is best able to care for the kittens, especially if they are under 4-5 weeks old and not yet weaned. You can help mom and kittens by providing a warm, dry shelter, as well as food and water. Once they are weaned, you can take the kittens (and Mom, if she is friendly) in as fosters and help socialize and prepare them for adoption. If you are unable to care for the family, contact a local rescue or shelter to see if they can assist.

     b) No - If you do not see the mother cat, don’t assume the kittens are orphans. She may be out hunting for food or simply hiding from you. Leave the kittens where they are and check periodically to see if mom returns in a few hours. If you have concerns about the kittens’ safety, move them to a safe location nearby where mom can still find them. If you do not see the mother cat return after close monitoring and the kittens appear to be in need of care — hungry, crying, dirty, etc. — they likely need a home and a caregiver. If you are unable to provide that care, contact a local rescue or shelter to see if they can help.

Angus & Friends Cat Rescue is always very glad to help cats find their forever homes. There are several ways we can help.  

Angus & Friends can help promote your cat to a more expansive audience, including:  

-- Posting your cat on our website, AdoptaPet and Petfinder pages.

-- Promoting your kitty on our social media platforms.

-- We will also screen potential adopters for you.

Angus & Friends volunteers put a lot of time and effort into ensuring that the cats we help go to safe, loving, indoor-only homes.  

Because of all the work we devote to helping cats get adopted, we request a $75 donation for every cat we post for you.

Once Angus & Friends posts your cat, you agree to refer all interested parties directly to us. If, after screening a potential adopter, we believe they are a good fit for your cat, we will have them complete our adoption application.

If the adopter is approved, your cat will be officially adopted through Angus & Friends. The adopter will pay an adoption fee of $200 per cat directly to Angus & Friends.

If you would like us to post your kitty, or if you have questions and would like more information about our process, please text our Director, Deborah MacDonald, at 510-909-4961 or send an email to angusnfriends@outlook.com.