FAQ

Found Abandoned Babies – What to Do

It’s not uncommon to come across kittens or wild animal babies that appear to be abandoned. While your first instinct may be to help, please pause before taking action. In many cases, the mother is nearby and caring for them, even if you don’t see her.

Mother animals, including semi-feral cats, instinctively avoid leading predators (including humans) to their young. That’s why you’ll rarely, if ever, see them with their babies during the day.

What to Do If You Find Babies

1. Wait — Hands Off!

• Many “abandoned” babies are not actually alone. Their mothers may be out searching for food and could be gone for several hours.

• A mother won’t return to the nest until she feels the area is safe and free of people or predators.

• Clean, quiet kittens are typically not abandoned. If you wake them up, they’ll meow, but that’s normal, not a sign of distress or starvation.

2. Only Intervene if They Are in Immediate Danger

Remove kittens or wildlife babies only if they are in grave danger.
The mother provides the best chance of survival.

3. If the Mother Is Present and Caring for Them

Leave the babies where they are until they’re about eight weeks old.
At that point, bring them to the shelter for Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) to help prevent future litters.

Important: Get the mother cat spayed as soon as possible — she can become pregnant again even while nursing.

4. For Rabbits

Mother rabbits nurse their babies only a few times per day, often at night. This means you might not see her, even though the babies are well cared for.

Make your own, DIY, Pet First Aid Kit:

    http://aspcapro.org/resource/saving-lives-shelter-health-poison-control/how-make-pet-first-aid-kit

Learn More

• What to Do If You Find Orphaned or Abandoned Kittens

• What to Do If You Find Orphaned or Injured Wildlife