Mom May Be Closer Than You Think
Mother cats often leave their kittens alone while they search for food. Even if you don’t see her, she may be nearby and planning to return.
If the kittens are:
- Warm
- Quiet or sleeping
- Clean
- Curled together
- Not obviously injured
…their mother is likely still caring for them. Leave them alone.
The best place for young kittens is with their mother whenever possible.
Leave the kittens where they are unless they’re in immediate danger, sick, or injured.
If you must move them, relocate them only a short distance.
Place a ring of flour around the kittens. Wait 6–8 hours from a distance.
Look for paw prints in the ring of flour or continually watch for her return.
Great! Leave the kittens with her.
Time to step in! Read below to learn what you should do next.
Can’t Find Mom?
Please don’t bring young kittens to the shelter if you can safely care for them.
This may sound surprising, but kittens younger than 8 weeks old have a much better chance of surviving in a home than in a shelter.
Even with our veterinary team, staff, volunteers, and foster families working around the clock, shelters are one of the most dangerous places for newborn kittens. Their immune systems are still developing, making them especially vulnerable to disease and other life-threatening complications.
Keeping kittens in a safe home until they’re about 8 weeks old gives them the best chance to grow healthy enough for adoption.
Why Waiting Saves Lives
Every week a kitten can safely stay in a home instead of the shelter dramatically improves their chance of survival. 1 in 4 kittens did not survive at The Animal Foundation in 2025. Their survival rates were as follows:
14%
shelter survival rate for kittens 0-2 weeks old
30%
shelter survival rate for kittens 3-4 weeks old
39%
shelter survival rate for kittens 5-6 weeks old
63%
shelter survival rate for kittens 7-8 weeks old
Join the Wait ‘Til 8 Movement
Every spring, thousands of well-meaning people find tiny kittens and do what feels natural: they bring them to a shelter.
But for kittens younger than 8 weeks old, the most life-saving place they can be is often a safe home, not a shelter.
That’s what Wait ‘Til 8 is all about.
By caring for healthy orphaned kittens until they’re about 8 weeks old (or around 2 pounds) before bringing them to The Animal Foundation, you’re giving them the best possible chance to grow stronger, fight off illness, and eventually find a loving home.
How Old Are My Kittens?
You don’t have to do it alone.
If you’re willing to help these kittens, we’ll help you get started.
Stop by our Low-Cost Veterinary Clinic or The Kitten Resource Center in our Adoptions Building to pick up free kitten care supplies, educational materials, and guidance from our team. We’ll walk you through everything you need to know—from feeding and keeping kittens warm to recognizing when they need medical attention.
Questions along the way? We’re just a phone call away.
Call 702-760-PETS (7387) for support or guidance.