Age and Condition will help determine the best course of action for the cat(s) you found!
For kittens, age is critical. Under 5-6 weeks they cannot survive very well on their own. They rely on the mom cat for food and warmth. From 6-8 weeks they are weaning and learning how to be more independent. Kittens under 8 weeks should be kept with mom cat if at all possible.
See the Kitten Chart for clues about the age of the kitten you found!
Are there others? Is mom cat around? Is mom friendly? These are the next questions you will need to get answers to before reaching out for help.
It is best to locate all the kittens in the litter. Often, around the age of 4-5 weeks, kittens will start exploring. This may explain why a mystery kitten just showed up out of the blue. Resist the urge to scoop up just the one, but rather see if you can locate the others and most importantly, see if the mom is around and still caring for them. Mom is the best equipped to take care of the kittens, especially if they are under 4 weeks old. Set up a shelter with food and water and see if you can earn their trust, with the goal of getting the mom spayed and the kittens socialized and adopted, if feasible.
Important: Do not separate kittens under 4 weeks old from the mom cat. This will trigger her to go into heat and get pregnant again; plus very young kittens have a high mortality rate without their mom. The best way to help the little family is to provide food and shelter for mom and wait for the kittens to gain independence. Then, TNVR mom and see if you can network the kittens into rescue.
If mom is friendly, you can set up a crate or portable catio or spare bathroom and keep them safe and cared for until the kittens are old enough to be separated and then spay mama and get the kittens vetted and adopted out. It’s not always possible to rescue and adopt out, but it’s a great goal.
What is the condition of the cat or kitten? Does it look healthy? Full body, nice fur, and bright eyes? It may be a neighbor’s cat! Be sure to talk to your neighbor’s and ask around before taking too many steps.
For older kittens and cats who look to be in need of help, there will be lots of help here for you, but it’s best to assume there is no Rescue available to just take the cat/kittens. We will help break down the best path for you to take to help the cat or kittens you found live their best lives.
If you live in the Long Beach Animal Care Services area, and the cat or kitten you found is SICK or INJURED, you can take the animal to the facility to be treated. If you can, please secure the animal in a trap or carrier. It is best to contact LBACS before heading over there, if possible. If you are unable to take the animal, you can call for a pick up, but wait times may be long, so do what you can to help the animal get the care it needs.
If the kitty you found is a community cat (not owned) and in healthy condition but not particularly friendly, the best thing to do is probably TNVR. We can help!
