Alt text: Four fluffy kittens cuddle closely together on a soft blanket. Three kittens face the camera with bright blue eyes, including a calico kitten, an orange-and-white kitten, and a black-and-white kitten wearing colored collars. A fourth black-and-white kitten rests in the foreground with its face partially tucked down.
April 22, 2026April 22, 2026

Kitten Season is Here!

Imagine this: you’re taking your usual walk along a familiar trail when you hear an unusual sound. A faint meow catches your attention. You approach to find the source and discover a litter of kittens. Your first instinct might be to help immediately, but hold on! We’re not saying don’t help; we want you to assist these kittens and their mother. The mother might be nearby but too shy to come out.

This is when we would advise you to follow “Don’t Kit-nap.”

Don’t Kitnap is an easy way to remember the best course of action when stumbling upon a litter of kittens.

When most people find a litter of kittens outside, their first impulse is to spring into action, scoop the kittens up, and bring them to their local animal shelter.

We get this. It’s human nature to want to help, and who’s more helpless than a tiny kitten left outside to fend for herself?

More often than not, though, kittens found outside haven’t been left to fend for themselves. In most cases, a mother cat is nearby – maybe looking for food, maybe scoping out a new spot for the family to move to – and planning to return to feed and care for her babies.

A kitten’s BEST chance of survival is sticking with their mom. A mother cat’s milk is the best possible food for unweaned kittens, and by removing them from this food source, you are putting them at risk.

This is why we ask that if you find kittens outside, please don’t kitnap them. Look for their mom first.

What to Do Next?

  1. Use this chart to estimate the age of the kittens. If the kittens are at least 6-8 weeks of age and friendly, use your personal network to try to find homes for them. Don’t forget to make plans to get the kittens – and their parents! – spayed and neutered.
  2. If the kittens are under 6 weeks old and you see their mom, leave them where they are to ensure they have the best chance of survival. If you want to help, you can make sure the mom has access to shelter, food, and water.
  3. If the kittens are under 6 weeks old and you do NOT see their mom…keep waiting. Sometimes mother cats will leave for hours at a time. After a few hours, if there is still no sign of a mom, you can step in and intervene if you are willing to assume the responsibility to become the kittens’ caretaker. You can reach out to JHS at [email protected] for support and resources to help you.

For additional information on kittens, community cats, and how YOU can help your local shelters, check out our Don’t Kitnap digital resources.

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