Help! I found kittens.
If you happen upon a litter of tiny kittens, it’s natural to want to scoop them up and bring them to safety, but thankfully human intervention is not typically required.
For the neonatal kittens that do come into our care, they will require extensive care from foster parents. Help us stock the shelter so that we can provide them everything they need.
Found a kitten?
Keep your "PAWS OFF" while determining what type of care is most beneficial for the kittens you have found! Click through below to get advice on your specific situation.
Stop, watch, and wait.
Our guide can help you determine if a kitten or litter truly needs human intervention.
Monitor the situation
Cat moms are much better at caring for their kittens and offer the best chance of survival. If the kittens are not in immediate danger and appear healthy and clean, leave them alone and check back in a few hours. If the kittens are in immediate danger, place them in a nearby safe, sheltered area where their mother can easily find them.
Wait for mom
Time to step in
After you have monitored the kittens and are sure the mother has not returned, you can assume they have been abandoned. Please call our Community Sheltering Center at 828-250-6430 for next steps. Even if you would like to foster or eventually even adopt the kitten(s), we can help you learn proper neonate care, and provide you with important knowledge, proper formula, and tools to help these babies survive and thrive.
If a kitten is cold, unresponsive, very thin, or appears unhealthy, DO NOT feed them. They will need medical care ASAP, so please bring them to Buncombe County Animal Shelter or your regular veterinarian.
My fur is dirty and my bottom is inflamed.
I have crusty eyes and nasal discharge.
I am thin and malnourished.
I'm upset and noisy.
Time to intervene
I'm content and quiet.
My eyes are clear and I'm not congested.
My belly is full and round.
My fur is clean and dry.
Don't intervene
Kitten Care
If you do need to intervene and are unable to immediately bring the kitten(s) to us, visit these online resources to learn more about caring for orphaned or neonate kittens.
Other resources
Learn about why we recommend what we do by reading the resources by other reputable animal welfare organizations! We are all working together to care for the kittens in our community.
