Found a kitten? What to do (and what not to do)

You turn a corner and there it is: a tiny kitten in a flowerpot, a box, or under a car, mewing like the world is ending. Every part of you wants to scoop it up. Please read this first (or watch the short film above). Doing the right thing in the first few hours makes a huge difference, and the right thing is often not what your heart says.

First: is the kitten really alone?

In most cases, it isn't. Mother cats leave their kittens hidden while they go hunting, and they won't come back while a human is standing over the nest. Kittens have a far better chance of survival with their mother: she feeds them, cleans them and keeps them warm in a way nobody else can.

So before you do anything:

• Step back and watch from a distance, ideally from inside, or far enough away that the mother feels safe to return.
• Give it a few hours. If the kittens are quiet, round-bellied and huddled together, mum is very likely coming back.
• Don't wait forever. Most rescues suggest acting if the mother hasn't returned after about 8 hours.
• If the spot is unsafe (a road, a building site, dogs nearby), you can move the kittens a short distance to somewhere safer and close by, so mum can still find them.

Binoculars are optional. Patience is not.

When to act straight away

Don't wait if the kitten is:

• in danger: on a road, in a drain, near dogs, out in heavy rain or strong sun
• injured, or visibly sick
• cold to the touch, limp or very weak
• crusty-eyed or gummy-eyed, very dirty, or covered in fleas or flies
• crying non-stop for hours, with no sign of the mother

In any of these cases, take the kitten in gently (a box with a towel is perfect), keep it warm, and contact a vet or a local rescue as soon as you can.

Warm first, food later

This is the most important rule, and the one most people get wrong. Kittens under about four weeks old can't keep themselves warm, and a cold kitten can't digest food. Never feed a cold kitten. Feeding it can do real harm.

If the ears, paw pads or belly feel cool:

• Put the kitten in a box with a soft towel, in a warm room away from draughts and other pets.
• Use a hot-water bottle or a heat pad on low, always wrapped in a towel, and test it on your own skin first.
• Leave space in the box so the kitten can crawl away from the heat if it gets too warm.
• Warm the kitten up gradually, and get it to a vet if it doesn't perk up.

Once the kitten is warm and moving, then you can think about food.

What to feed a kitten (and what never to feed it)

• Never cow's milk (or goat's milk). It doesn't have the right nutrients for kittens and can give them serious diarrhoea, which is dangerous for something this small. Sorry, cows.
• Use kitten milk replacer (kitten formula) from a vet or pet shop, warmed to around body temperature.
• Feed tummy down, never on its back like a human baby: a kitten on its back can inhale milk into its lungs.
• Let the kitten suckle at its own pace. Don't squeeze the bottle or force milk in.

Kittens who are a little older (around 4 weeks and up) can start on a soft mush of wet kitten food mixed with formula. If you're unsure how much or how often, your vet will tell you based on the kitten's weight.

How often do kittens eat?

Roughly:

• Under 2 weeks: every 2 to 3 hours, day and night
• 2 to 4 weeks: every 3 to 4 hours
• 4 weeks and up: starting on wet food, fewer feeds

Yes, that includes 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. Congratulations: you're a cat mum now.

Help with the toilet

Kittens under about three weeks old can't pee or poo on their own; their mother licks them to make it happen. You'll need to do her job: after each feed, gently rub the lower belly and bottom with a cotton pad or soft cloth dipped in warm water and squeezed out. It's not glamorous. It is essential.

How old is the kitten?

The age decides almost everything, so it's worth a closer look:

What you see	Roughly how old
Eyes closed, maybe a bit of umbilical cord	Under 1 week
Eyes opening, still crawling more than walking	1 to 2 weeks
Ears up, first teeth, wobbly first steps	About 3 to 4 weeks
Walking, playing, pouncing on your shoelaces	About 5 weeks and up
Running, eating on its own	8 weeks and up

If in doubt, a vet can tell you, and weigh the kitten too.

See a vet

As soon as you can, take the kitten to a vet. They'll check its age, weight and general health, look for parasites and tell you what it needs. Don't give any flea or worming products yourself: many are dangerous for very young kittens.

Don't forget mum

If the mother cat turns up and she's friendly, she may belong to someone: get her checked for a microchip and ask around. If she's a street cat, kittens are the clearest sign she needs to be spayed, ideally once the kittens are weaned. Otherwise, there will be more kittens in the same flowerpot next spring. Your local rescue or council can help with trap-neuter-return.

In Spain: what the law says

Under Spain's animal welfare law (Ley 7/2023), cats must be microchipped, and kittens can't be given away before 8 weeks of age. Adoptions should go through registered animal protection organisations. So if you can't keep the kitten, the right next step is a local protectora (animal rescue), your ayuntamiento (town hall), or a vet, not a social media post.

If you're near La Floresta (Lleida), write to us and we'll help you work out what to do next.

Not sure? Ask

Every kitten situation is a little different. If you're not sure whether to wait or to act, ask a vet or a local rescue. That's exactly what we're here for. Afterwards, our kitten month-by-month film shows what the first year looks like, and if you end up keeping your new housemate, preparing your home for a new cat is the next step.

This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. If a kitten seems unwell, please contact a vet straight away.