Help!
I Found A Kitten!
.....now what?
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Scoop it up, or leave it be?
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How to tell if immediate help is needed, or if it's best to come back with a plan
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How to tell if Mom is nearby
Keep it WARM!
Warmth is BEST way to help a kitten!
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Quick, easy, and safe ways to provide an appropriate heat source
Kibble, can, or bottle?
When, what, and how to feed based on age and condition
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Options for feeding newborns in a pinch
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Whether you want to keep, foster, or hand the kitten off, find answers, options, and advice
Assess the Situation
When to Intervene
Scoop it up, or leave it be?
Link goes here?
Is the kitten in immediate danger from traffic, predators, or another unsafe situation?
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Are there extreme weather conditions currently or soon that will harm the kitten?
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Is the kitten cold, dirty, wet, sick, or injured?
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Has Mom been seen in the area?
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Is Mom Around?
Link Here?
How to tell if Mom's nearby:
Kittens are warm, clean, fluffy, and well groomed
Kittens have nice round bellies and appear well fed
Kittens have a nice den or hiding spot and are relatively safe
Adult cats have been spotted frequently in the area or visiting den
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Why it's best to stay with Mom:
Survival rates are higher for kittens with Mom
Mom will instinctually care for them in most cases
Mom provides needed nutrients and helps build immune system by nursing
Mom teaches social and survival skills
Leaving kittens with Mom and forming a plan allows for rescue or TNR of Mom and other area cats as well, controlling population
Additional unspotted kittens won't be left behind if Mom is scared off
Scoop or Plan?
Link Here?
Forming A Plan
If you decided it's best to leave the kitten there and form a plan to come back prepared, contact us for help and options while we are adding content to our site.
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If you decided to scoop the kitten up and take it with you, see sections below for basic info on how to get through the first 24 hours caring for the kitten and options for seeking help from a local organization.
Warm it Up
Warm it Up
Always provide a heat source
link here?
No matter the kitten age or condition, it is always good practice to provide a safe heat source until you know more about the kitten's needs
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Newborn (or Neonate) kittens (like the one to the left) are dependent on an external source of heat, as they cannot yet regulate their body temperature. Left in a regular room temperature (or lower) environment, they will become hypothermic and perish.
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Human body warmth is NOT sufficient long term, but will do in an emergency until additional warmth can be provided.
Heat Source Options
Quick, Easy, & Readily Available Options
Some examples of heat sources include:
A Heating Pad placed on low or medium setting (be aware of timer auto-shut offs!)
A sock full of dry white rice and microwaved (warm but not hot)
A HotHands disposable hand warmer
Heat Lamp for chickens or reptiles
Human body heat (only use when no other option is available, as kittens need to stay warmer than human temperature!)
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ALWAYS MONITOR CLOSELY TO PREVENT SEVERE TEMPERATURE FLUCTUATIONS
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SET A TIMER TO REMIND YOU TO RESET HEAT SOURCE!
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Wiggle room
instinctive temperature control
Its normal for kittens to scoot or crawl around to find the perfectly warm spot.
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Its important to provide space for kittens to move away from the heat source if they get too hot
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Signs a kitten is too hot:
open mouth panting or gasping
keeps moving away from heat
kitten is stretched out with limbs extended
siblings are spread out, not snuggled together
Feed It
What, When, and How to Feed
What to feed?
Kibble, Canned food, or Formula?  Link here?
Use this quick guide to tell what you should feed the kitten, and where you can get it in a hurry!
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While we add resources to our page, in short it's always best to feed bottle babies kitten milk replacer formula available at most stores, but as a last resort you can use goat's milk (NEVER cow milk) or a small amount (a few drops at a time) of sugar water or karo syrup to keep blood sugar up in an emergency. If you are doing this please seek immediate help from a vet or organization for the well being of the baby!
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If a kitten is big enough and strong enough to eat on it's own, its ok to feed any brand of cat food (kibble or canned) that the kitten will eat temporarily, but still seek help on appropriate diet long term.
When to feed?
How much and how often? Link here?
Easy guide to tell you how much you should expect the kitten to eat, and how many times a day, based on the kitten's approximate age and appearance.
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While we add resources, in short, self-feeding kittens should have unlimited access to food. Bottle babies should be fed every 2 hours until you are able to confirm age and condition. This will help you determine proper feeding schedule and amount per feeding they should eat.
How do I Feed It?
Step-by-Step guide for any age Link here?
Some kittens will dig right in without assistance, others need some encouragement, or too young or weak to eat on their own. Use this guide to help the kitten get those important first few meals while you form a plan!
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Also what supplies you may need and household items you can substitute in a pinch.
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While we add resources, in short, if a kitten can eat on it's own, let it. Self-feeding kittens should have unlimited access to food. Bottle babies can be challenging, it's always best to seek help if you're inexperienced, but if you find yourself trying in a pinch, go slow and monitor breathing. It's always best to offer small amounts more frequently, and seek help asap!
Get Help
There are lots of resources available
URGENT Situations
Get help for a kitten in crisis ASAP
SEEK VET HELP!
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Options available locally for getting help for a kitten in an emergency
More content available soon as we add resources, for now submit a Found Kitten Assessment Form for help!
I want to keep the kitten, but need help getting started
Options and Resources
Good deeds shouldn't mean you're on your own! Explore ways to get advice and support here for your newly found kitten to get the best start!
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PPAR is here to help ensure sucess of the kitten, and will not take custody of the kitten unless you request it!
I don't plan to keep the kitten, but can help by caring for it temporarily
Join our Foster Team temporarily or permanently
If you've found a kitten and are interested in helping our organization by fostering it, find out more about the process and options using this link:
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I found a kitten, but it can't stay with me
Options for moving the kitten to appropriate care asap
Find local options for providing the kitten with a safe and positive outcome, with arrangements made as quickly as possible
Found Kitten Assessment Form
Submit this form to us for quick response
Please remember although we do want to help, we are all volunteers with jobs and responsibilities outside of the organization, so you may not get an immediate answer, but we'll always follow up with you asap! Please be patient, use info from our resources above, and don't hesitate to seek help from a vet or other organization also!
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This form is to help us gather details about the kitten and help you help the kitten. This form does not commit you or us to any particular course of action. It is only an assessment tool, and each outcome will depend on individual circumstances. Answering honestly and in detail will allow us to best help in the quickest way!
