Emergency 5 min read Draft · vet review pending

Found a tiny kitten?

Breathe. Most kittens you find are fine. Mum is usually nearby, out looking for food. Here's how to tell if this one needs you, and what to do in the next hour.

Time: 2–4 hours of watching, 10 minutes of doing Serves: one small kitten (or a litter)

You'll need

A small box or a carrier
A soft towel or an old T-shirt
A bottle of warm (not hot) water
Your nearest vet's phone number

Do this, in order

Look for mum first.
Are the kittens clean, quiet and sleeping in a heap? That usually means mum is coming back. Step well away, where she can't see you, and watch for 2 to 4 hours.
Done
Step in if it's in trouble.
Don't wait if the kitten is crying non-stop, cold, wet, dirty, hurt, or in danger (traffic, dogs, heavy rain). Same if mum hasn't come back after 4 hours. Scoop it gently into the towel.
Done
Warm it before anything else.
A cold kitten can't digest food, so warmth comes first, always. Wrap the warm bottle in the towel, put it in the box, and tuck the kitten against it. It should be able to crawl away if it gets too warm.
Done
Call a vet today.
Tell them roughly how old it looks (see How old is this kitten?). They'll tell you what to feed and how often. Kittens under 4 weeks old need care around the clock, so this can't wait until next week.
Done

Real talk: the most common mistake is rescuing kittens that weren't lost. Mum does a better job than any of us. Watching first is not doing nothing.

Please don't

Give cow's milk. It upsets kittens' stomachs. Kittens need kitten milk replacer, from a vet or pet shop.
Feed a kitten that feels cold. Warm it up first.
Feed it lying on its back. Belly down, the way it would feed from mum.
Hover near the nest while you're waiting for mum. She won't come back while you're there.

Go to a vet straight away if

It's injured or bleeding
It's limp, very weak, or won't wake up properly
It stays cold even after warming
It's struggling to breathe

What next?

How old is this kitten? Age decides almost everything else.
Bottle-feeding, step by step, if it's under about 4 weeks old.
List the kitten on The Bombay Cats when it's ready for a home.

Where this comes from

Alley Cat Allies: five tips to help kittens (wait and watch for 2–4 hours)
PetMD: bottle feeding a kitten, by Michael Kearley, DVM (warmth first, no cow's milk, feeding position)

This guide is a draft and hasn't been checked by a vet yet. It's general information, not a diagnosis. If you're worried, call a vet.