STOP. Look for the mother cat.
A kitten’s best chance at surviving and thriving is to stay with its mother. She is likely nearby, getting food, or waiting for you to leave so she can return to the nest. Stand far away or go away completely for a couple of hours to see if the mother cat will return to the kittens.
DO NOT KITNAP KITTENS!
If the kittens appear injured, sick, or in immediate danger in an unsafe environment, it may be best to intervene immediately. Consult SafeHaven if you have questions.
If Mom Returns…
You can support the family by providing food and shelter, and most importantly, getting them spayed/neutered. Around six weeks is the optimal age to intervene with additional care, such as socialization, vaccination, and deworming – SafeHaven can help! Call (541) 928-2789 or email intake@safehavenhumane.com to set up an Admissions appointment.
If Mom Doesn’t Return…
You’d make a great foster parent! Contact SafeHaven for more information and support. All intake fees are waived if you are able to foster the kittens. We’ll cover the costs of vaccines, spay/neuter surgery, and provide food and other supplies (when supplies are available) while you provide the love and care. Once the kittens are ready, they can be adopted out to loving homes through SafeHaven.
Emergency?
If the kittens or mother cat are experiencing a true medical emergency, take them to a local veterinarian. You can also try animal shelters like SafeHaven and local rescues.
Stop the cycle
The best way to help cats is to have them spayed or neutered to stop the cycle of kitten births. Look for local Trap-Neuter-Return options and stop cats from reproducing by taking the steps to get them altered.
A busy time in the animal shelter world where an increase in cat and kitten intake is seen. The most typical kitten season for SafeHaven is from April – October. During the height of kitten season, it is not unusual for 250 animals to be in foster care in the span of a month.
Immediate Resources
Be a Foster Hero!
Volunteer foster caregivers provide temporary, in-home care for a homeless pet(s). The foster program is one of the most important aspects of our life-saving impact as it allows us to help animals who are not yet available for adoption, such as underage kittens and puppies, pregnant or nursing mothers with babies, ill or injured animals, or shy/under-socialized animals.
We place more than 2,300 dogs, cats, and small mammals in adoptive homes each year, and about 1,000 of these animals get their start in our foster care program. We could not accomplish our mission, goals, or save nearly as many lives without foster caregivers. Fostering an animal is a wonderful way to experience the joy of owning a pet for those who are unable to make a permanent commitment to an animal.
Top reasons to become a foster parent:
- Care for an animal without a long-term commitment
- Watch animals heal, love, and trust again due to your nurturing and time
- #FosterOneSaveOne: When animals are placed in foster care, more shelter space opens up for us to rescue more animals.
- Cuddle puppies and kittens!
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SafeHaven Humane Society is a 501(c)3 organization.
Our tax-ID number is 93-0676661 and donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
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