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.
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 to ensure that the kittens have a caretaker. The best place for a feral mom and her healthy kittens is to stay outdoors where she is taking good care of them. Once mom has been spotted, the best support you can provide to mom is in the form of access to food, water and shelter.
After you have monitored the kittens and are sure the mother has not returned, you can bring them to Watauga Humane Society. If you can bring a kitten to us within hours of intervening, please do! 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.