Found a kitten in the wild! PLEASE HELP!?

Question

This morning we found 2 kittens in the wild, and we thought they were abandoned. We took the first one inside, but when I went to get the other one, the mother was taking it away.

The one we have is only a few days old and its eyes haven't opened.

We put it outside for its mother to take a few hours ago and it is mewing for her.

Will she take her and how long should I wait until we go get her?

I don't know what to do---I want to be humane and I don't want it to die.

Thanks for all your concern. We left it out for a few hours, but Mom didn't come back. I brought it to an animal shelter and they're going to find a foster home for it tonight.

Answer 1

The mother won't come back for it. Bring it inside, make a soft bed in a box for it. Try to put something in there like a heating pad or hot water bottle, but make sure it's not too hot, especially if you use a heating pad. You could also put a stuffed animal and a ticking clock wrapped in blankets, to mimick the mother's heartbeat. You're trying to make the kitten more comfortable, because it will be stressed being out of its environment.

Next, run to the store and get some baby animal formula. It comes in cans, and you might be able to get it at a grocery store. Any pet store will definitely have it. Buy a little bottle too. Read the directions, but depending on how thick it is you might have to dilute it with water. Boil the bottle before use to kill bacteria, and be sure to wash your hands every time you handle the kitten or its bottle. Put the formula in the bottle, take the top (nipple part) off and microwave it for 5-15 seconds. Test it on the inside of your wrist - it should be about the same temperature as your skin, maybe slightly warmer. In other words, if it feels hot or cool on your wrist it's not the right temp. Once you have it the right temperature, pick up the kitten in your hand and put a little milk on its lips (being careful not to get milk in its nose). It might start sucking right away, it might not. If it won't eat, you will have to gently force the nipple inside its mouth and squirt the milk down its throat. Don't do this aggressively, just gently, a few drops at a time. You should try to feed it every hour or two, even through the night. Be sure you don't overfeed, though. If the stomach is bulging and hard, the kitten doesn't need more formula at that time. Test for dehydration by squeezing together the skin on its back. If it sticks together for 5 seconds or less before rebounding, the kitten is dehydrated. If it doesn't rebound at all, it is severely dehydrated.

After feeding, the mother stimulates her young ones to...um...go the the bathroom. You can accomplish this by wetting a washcloth with warm water. Make sure it's damp, not soaking. Stroke the kitten's genital area gently in one direction, like a mother cat licking. Don't worry if they don't go to the bathroom every time, but this stimulation is important. Make sure the kitten is going to the bathroom at least occasionally. Also make sure the kitten isn't wet from the washcloth when you return it to its box.

It's too young to play, but it's ok to handle/hold it and give it attention. Let it curl up on you while you're watching tv/sitting still - the kitten will like your warmth and heartbeat. If you intend to keep it as a pet, this will make it a very sweet cat when it grows up.

Raising a kitten that young requires diligent care. If you don't feel up to it, look for an animal rescue in your local phone book. Feel free to email me if you have more questions! Good luck!

Edit: I don't agree with everyone who's saying to just leave it outside for hours, until nightfall, or indefinitely. The kitten can't control its body temperature, and needs to eat, so it will die if left alone. Not to mention the many predators who would love an easy meal like a small kitten. It's true that the thing about human scent on a baby is an urban legend - the mother might still take it back. However, you've already removed it when the mother came back for the other one. As far as she's concerned, the kitten was probably eaten and she's not going to spend a lot of time looking for it. She's especially not going to find it on your porch, away from the original nest. You've already taken it out, better to raise it or take it to a shelter.

Just for curiosity's sake, I also want to say that a mother cat won't usually eat her own babies. This is another misconception. Usually what we see is a competing male killing litters, so the mother will come into estrus and breed with him. Then she will be raising his babies, and his genes will be passed on. The only time a mother would kill her own is when resources are in short supply, and she would rather take the time and effort keeping one or two alive (or none-she kills them all because there are only enough resources for herself). This is why "runts" are often killed - they have less chance of surviving and are killed rather than waste precious resources on them. This is also why animals in zoos often kill their young (and probably why we have that misconception - you can't study animals in zoos as indicators of natural behavior). They perceive their lack of space and lack of game as a resource shortage, and feel there are not enough resources for them to raise their young. Hence, they kill them. It's sad, and often misunderstood.

Answer 2

Sometimes a mother cat will reject a baby that has been taken away by humans and then brought back. I suggest no matter what you should take the cat to the vet and try and get the mother and the other baby too. Otherwise the mom will get pregnant again and then you just have more wild cats getting pregnant and having babies. If you don't want to keep them then take them to you local shelter or pound because sometimes the vet will make you responsible for money where as the pound wont.

Answer 3

Since you touched it she most likely won't take it or she might eat it- this is sad but true for all types of animals. If she doesn't get it within an hour, I'd bring it back inside because they need fed every couple of hours and can't control their body temperature so it could die quickly. You need to get milk replacement formula from the pet store and a bottle with a very tiny nipple (also from the pet store). It MUST be fed every 2 to 3 hours until 4 weeks of age, then wean it off and onto semi-solid kitten food. Get a heating pad from there also and put it under the cat's bed on low because they cannot control their body temperature yet.
Put a stuffed animal in there with it so it can cuddle and keep warm.
You need to contact a vet and get it checked out.
ALSO, VERY IMPORTANT- you must get a wet warm washcloth and rub it's genital/anal area a few times a day to make it go to the bathroom- the mother usually licks it to do this. YOU MUST do this or it will die from blockage.

If you have no experience with newborn kittens PLEASE take it to a shelter as soon as possible and they will foster it until it is old enough to find a home. Most abandoned newborn kittens die from lack of responsibility on the person's behalf or not being properly cared for.
PLEASE take it to a rescue group or no-kill shelter.
ALSO, if you work- you do not have time to take care of it because it MUST be fed every 2 to 3 hours, including during the night.
Call a vet or shelter immediately.

Here's a couple of links to help:
http://www.thepetcenter.com/gen/kit.html

http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/cats/26433

Answer 4

Don't touch it.

Look up symptoms of rabies, if it doesn't display any, try to slowly approach it.

If it lets you nearby, you have three options.

1. Take it in and try to find an owner by newspaper, flyers, or local organizations (the pound).

2. Take it to the vet if you plan on keeping it, and house it.

3. Take it to the nearest pound. Yes, they do kill the animals if they cannot find a home at a certain date, but they give them shots, food, water and shelter for the time being. This would be your most likely option if the other two do not sound like you or are impossible.

You may leave it alone, but I would honestly recommend that you take care of it in some manner or another.

Answer 5

Best thing is to let the kitten stay out there for a few hours and if the mother hasn't come back for her, then she's abandoned it. It would be safe then to take it in and care for it. You will need to buy a special syringe and milk for the kitten, you can usually get this at any pet store. Or take it to the humane society although they usually will put them to sleep if they can't find someone to adopt them within a short time.

Answer 6

Bring the kitten to a vet right away. The vet will know how to properly care for it, he will probably keep the kitten for a few weeks.

In the meantime, keep your eyes out for the mother and the other babies. If you find them, take the kittens and bring them to a vet to be raised. The mother should also be trapped in a humane trap and put with the kittens if possible.

Leaving them alone will basically guarantee they will all be feral and will contribute to the overpopulation problem.

Answer 7

Wait it out for a little bit unless its super cold. She should come get the other kitten.

If not go to the local pet store and buy a kitten baby bottle and some kitten formula. Pretty inexpensive. It might take some time but the kitty will learn to use the bottle.

Answer 8

If the mother is a feral cat then it likely will not accept the kitten back because of the scent you put on it.

You should have waited for quite some time before assuming they were abandoned.

Give it a couple of hours and if mom doesn't return then you will be it's new mom.

Answer 9

You should put the kitten back where you found it... or atleast look for the mother.

Call the animal welfare or something, about the feral cat. If the mother doesnt take her kitten back look after it, you will need to get full information from the veternerian.

Answer 10

I think the best thing to do is leave food out for the mum then when she finds it she might pick up the kitten. if the cat doesnt pick it up,take it to the rescue centre.Good luck and well done for trying to help the little kitten!