I found a kitten outside. What are the first steps for its care?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
We have found a kitten outside our doorstep in the freezing cold, hidden away in a crawl space. I was finally able to get the kitten out by playing mommy cat sounds on my phone. I then grabbed her and placed her in a clean crate with food and milk. She seems to be healthy, she is eating and drinking. She was scared at first, but seems to get used to us quickly. What should my first steps be?
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on December 6th, 2017
Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Depending on her age, the kitten may not be able to break down the milk sugar called lactose much like people with Lactose Intolerance. I wouldn't advise giving milk since it can cause cramping, diarrhea, and gastrointestinal upset. I would advise getting her to your veterinarian right away for an examination. Depending on her age they will advise you on pertinent testing (Feline Leukemia, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus), vaccinations, and deworming to get her off on the right track. Great job saving her and good luck
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on June 10th, 2019
I would recommend offering her fresh water and a commercially available cat food if you are planning on taking care of her. Milk is not toxic to cats but may cause gastrointestinal upset in some cats if given in large amounts. I would also recommend an examination by a veterinarian and a rabies vaccine for her and her kitten if you plan on taking these cats in as your own/providing them with shelter and care.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
What should I know about Blinky who I got yesterday?
Thank you for using Boop by Petco and congratulations on your new kitten! I recommend providing her with food formulated for kittens and keeping a close eye on her to make sure she doesn't get into things she shouldn't. She should be seen by a vet as soon as possible to receive any vaccines she needs, begin flea prevention, and be spayed within the next few months. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you may have!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Just found a newborn kitten under our families trailer, we looked around but no mom cat anywhere. Its been a couple hours already with no signs of the mother cat and the kitten still has the placenta and cord attached, what should I do? It's late at
Hello, thank you for using Boop by Petco. The most important thing for this kitten is warmth. If you already have the kitten on a heating blanket on low, you need to get some nutrition into it. You can purchase a kitten replacer at any pet store & attempt to get a little milk into the baby every hour. I find the best way to do this is to cut off the corner of a clean makeup sponge, soak it in the milk, & kittens usually can latch onto a corner. You can then take some dental floss & place a knot 1/2 way between the placenta & body wall. Cut just beyond the knot leaving it tied on the umbilical cord & throwing out the placenta. If you can get a couple of small meals into the kitten, you can leave it for the night. Then tomorrow, start calling vets, rescues, anyone you know that loves cats, & hopefully someone will be willing to foster this tiny baby. I wish you much luck. Take care.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Food & Nutrition
what should a cat a month old be given?
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! In terms of food, she should be fed kitten formula until she is about 6-7 weeks old at which point she can be switched to a dry or canned diet. It is important to get her evaluated by a veterinarian to get her on a preventative care protocol to include vaccines and deworming when she turns 6-8 weeks old. She is beautiful! Have a great day!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hi, yesterday I found a stray kitten, looks like 6-8 weeks old, with no mother so I took it home. When coming home I fed her wet food (meow mix) and water. She slept a lot and slept almost all through the night but at 5 in the morning she threw up an
Hello. Thank you for rescuing this kitten. I would be most concerned about this kitten having an infection & most certainly having a large number of parasites it its gut. Roundworms are especially common in kittens & can cause significant discomfort & diarrhea. It would be best to have the kitten seen as soon as possible as she may need some medical treatment to get her going on the right track. Thanks for using Boop by Petco.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
How much does it needs to eat? And why it doesn't poop? And in our country we only have cow milk so there's nothing else to feed it, is it ok?? And does it need water ?
Hi, thanks for using Boop by Petco! Sadly cow’s milk is not ideal nutrition for a kitten. Kitten formula is ideal and most pet stores and veterinary hospitals carry it. It can also be found online. Meow meow should be bottle fed every 2-3 hours and then stimulated to urinate and defecate after each meal. You do this by gently rubbing the anus and vulva with a soft moist cloth. I recommend early weaning in bottle fed kittens so at 3-4 weeks by mixing the formula with canned kitten food. If she will not take a bottle she needs to see a vet and you may need to be taught how to tune feed. Otherwise she is at risk for starvation, dehydration, low blood sugar and even death. I wish you the best!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
my kitten is 2 weeks...i gave her curd after which she vomitted.she has not pooped since yesterday night...now ch is not taking feed what should i do???
Hello, & thank you for using Boop by Petco. Make sure what you are feeding the kitten is an appropriate kitten milk replacer. Kittens this young are not able to regulate their temperatures well, so make sure you have her on a heating pad set on low with a towel on top. There should be an area for the kitten to move off if it gets too warm. Make sure you are not overfeeding the kitten. A kitten needs 2 tablespoons ( 30 mls ) per 4 ounces ( 115 grams ) of body weight daily. Divide the daily amount into equal portions for each feeding & fed every 3-4 hours until bedtime. Stimulate the genital area after each meal, but do not be concerned if she does not have a BM each time. You can try feeding her a congee, which is often tolerated by the sickest kittens. Take 1-2 cups chicken broth ( low or no salt added ), add 1/4 cup white rice & a tiny sliver of fresh ginger. Boil for 2 hours. While cooling, add 1 Tbsp good quality protein powder - egg or casein, not soy. Stir together very
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I just found a kitten. I'm gonna say she's about a week old. What do I need for her to eat or drink? And make her comfortable? Since she's not around a momma cat.
Good for you for taking in Binkie! Very young kittens need to drink kitten milk replacer (Esbilac is one brand) from a kitten bottle every 2-3 hours. Shortly after feeding her, you will need to take a slightly damp warm cloth and gently rub her abdomen and hind end to stimulate her to urinate and defecate. Keep her confined to a confined crate, open box, or other small area with blankets or towels since she is not yet old enough to move around your home on her own. Remember that she is not able to regulate her body temperature as well as an adult, so try to keep the air temperature from becoming extremely hot or cold. Around 4 weeks of age you can begin to introduce softened kitten food in addition to the kitten milk replacer. Binkie should go to her vet around 6 weeks of age to start her vaccinations, deworming and flea preventatives. Enjoy your little one!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Well ive just recently rescued a wonderful kitten a few weeks ago an named Lola that is soo sweet an cuddly. I took her to the vet a day after i rescued her and found out she has tape worms from eatting a infected flea and weight 3 lbs an got treat f
Hi, thanks for using Boop by Petco! Lola is adorable! If Lola is producing urine and acting normal I wouldn't be too concerned about her water intake. Some suggestions though are to feed her more of a canned food diet and gradually add water to the canned food to trick her in to taking more water in. Water fountains are a great option for cats who like fresh running water. Be sure that the Vet also dewormed her for round worms as the medications are different. ALL young animals usually have round worms. She should also have started her vaccinations and been tested for feline leukemia and FIV. I would increase her food volume as she does appear skinny. If she doesn't start to gain after being properly dewormed then I would consider a food change. I like he brands Hill's Science diet, Purina proplan, Royal Canine and Iams/Eukanuba. Be sure she is eating kitten formulas until 1 year of age. Good luck!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I picked up a kitten in a grocery store parking lot. He/she is not voiding well and feces is rather ruuny and kind of oozes out but he can't drop anything in the litter box when he tries to go. There is also a soft lump in his/her lower abdomen. What
Hello. Without knowing what might be wrong with the kitten it is almost impossible to make any recommendations. I know your heart is in the right place, but if you can not care for the kitten, it really is the kindest thing to try & find someone who can care for & treat the kitten properly. It sounds like there may be some fairly significant things happening with the kitten, & things can get expensive quickly. I do hope you can call your area humane society or rescue group soon & you will know that you truly saved this kittens life. Thank you for rescuing the kitten & doing the right thing. And thank you for contacting Boop by Petco.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Are there any programs to help cover vet costs and other costs such as food? I am trying to care for an abandoned newborn kitten, but I can't afford all of the costs for vet checkups, vaccines, spaying, food, and everything this kitten will need.
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! It is wonderful you are trying to help Mila but as you have stated, owning a pet is a huge financial responsibility. While I am sure you love her and want to do the best for her, you may want to consider giving her to a rescue to care for. They have the funds to raise her until she can be adopted to a good home to continue her care. I would call around to the local shelter and ask for cat rescue phone numbers. They will have foster families available to continue her care. Good luck and kisses to Mila!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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