Every Spring in this country, along with the rain and high pollen counts, outside cats have kittens. It’s a sad beginning for these babies due to pet overpopulation and the unwillingness to spay or neuter. It has become such a dilemma that shelters and rescue organizations are overwhelmed and full to the brim with kittens.
Recently, one of my clients found a tiny kitten in the middle of the road. She did the right thing by rescuing him from certain disaster then earnestly looking for a his family or mother. When no evidence of other kittens or cat were found, she opted to take him home and worry about his fate later. She alerted me before I went over to care for her dogs that day. I frantically purchased needed kitten supplies like a litter box and kitten milk. When I arrived, I realized he was much too small to stay in an entire room by himself so I took him home believing I would foster him until I could find him a home. Well, that didn’t happen.
Little kitten, now named “Nico,” became part of the pack. This one pound-two ounce helpless little creature needed immediate care. I created a small penned-in area complete with litter box, scratch pad, toys and soft towels. His new life was just beginning. After a thorough check-up by my vet who claimed him to be very healthy, he got on a feeding schedule of wet food four times per day.
He is sequestered in a quiet room while he grows and becomes confident before introducing him to the rest of the resident three cats and two dogs.
I can’t save all the kitties but I saved this ONE.
It’s important to learn what to do if you DO find a lone kitty. An article by Best Friends Animal Sanctuary recently published a great article about what to do if you find a lone kitten. Whether you can find the kitten’s family or choose to foster or adopt him as your own, learn about the care of kittens. Depending on their age, it’s important to know their life-stage to properly care for the furrball. A good resource is Catster.
If more people would do their part in finding ferals, trap them and have them spayed and neutered, kitten season would be more tolerable. I fear that humanity has a long way to go to accomplish something so important.