Think twice before picking up kittens: Experts urge caution with newborn cats
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — With kitten season approaching, animal welfare officials are urging residents to pause before picking up baby kittens found outdoors.
As warmer weather brings more litters, people are more likely to come across newborn kittens tucked under bushes, in yards or near buildings. While it may look like the kittens have been abandoned, experts say that’s often not the case.
The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region says mother cats frequently leave their kittens alone for hours at a time while they hunt for food. During that time, the kittens may appear unattended, but the mother often returns.
“If the kittens are small, clean and quiet, the best thing you can do is leave them where they are and watch from a distance,” said Carol Guinta, co-owner of Comfort and Joy Café, a local cat foster home. “Mom is usually nearby and will come back.”
Experts say size is one of the biggest clues. Kittens smaller than the size of a human hand are likely under four weeks old and still rely on their mother’s milk to survive. Removing them too early can significantly reduce their survival chances.
According to the Humane Society, kittens do best when they remain with their mother, who provides warmth, nutrition, and protection that shelters and foster homes cannot fully replicate, especially during peak kitten season, when resources are stretched thin.
Shelter officials recommend stepping in only if the kittens appear injured, sick, severely dirty, in immediate danger from weather or traffic, or if the mother has not returned after several hours. Excessive meowing can also be a sign that intervention is needed.
For people who do need to step in, the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region says it can help take them in or provide emergency foster resources, such as supplies, training, and support for people willing to temporarily care for kittens in need.
Officials say the goal is not to discourage helping but to make sure well-intended rescues don’t accidentally put vulnerable kittens at greater risk.
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