How to Help Found Kittens
As the weather grows warmer, we will be entering “kitten season,” and the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria anticipates an increase in the number of kittens seen across the community. But how can residents best help these young cats?
If a kitten appears healthy, leave the kitten alone. This is the recommendation of veterinarians and animal welfare professionals across the country, and it is the recommendation of the AWLA. Kittens thrive best in the care of their mothers, and even if you do not see a mother with the kitten, the fact that it appears to be good health demonstrates that it is being cared for and likely has not been abandoned. The AWLA recommends that kittens under the age of 6 weeks should only be brought to us in cases of emergency, which are defined as
- Kittens being visibly sick or injured
- Kittens who are trapped or otherwise in danger
- Kittens who appear to have been abandoned by their mother
Once kittens are old enough to survive and thrive without their mothers, around 6 to 7 weeks of age, our team is excited to work with you to help these kittens find families of their own. (READ MORE about kitten development and age.) Contact our team about bringing kittens into our facility for homing OR let us know if you need help apprehending kittens from within the City of Alexandria.
Thank you for your concern about the cats in our city! As a reminder, if you have any questions about the welfare of a kitten or kittens found in the City of Alexandria, please do not handle them. Instead, contact us at 703.746.6000, and we can provide you with guidance or send an Animal Services officer to determine if the kitten is in need of help.
Frequently Asked Kitten Questions
How can I tell how old a kitten is?
This graphic provides helpful physical and developmental information to differentiate kitten ages up to 10 weeks; however, we know that these signs can be hard to tell from a distance and without handling the kittens, so our trained experts are happy to help you out. Call our Animal Services team at 703.746.6000 or email animalservices@alexandriaanimals.org for assistance.
I have a cat and kittens on my property. How can I help them?
This family is going to be safest if they can stay where they are until the kittens are 6 to 7 weeks old. We can also provide you with supplies to keep them happy and healthy, including bedding, food for the mother cat and even a warm crate where they might “nest.” Our team can also help you determine how old the kittens are. Once they are old enough, the entire family can come to the AWLA to be spayed or neutered to prevent even more litters of “surprise” kittens.
I found a cat with kittens, but it’s not safe for them to stay here. What can I do?
Contact us so we can determine the safest and healthiest option for the whole cat family.
Why should we worry about spaying or neutering these cats if they live outdoors?
Whether they live indoors or out, cats who are spayed or neutered live safer and healthier lives. Rather than spending their time engaging in mating, nursing kittens and attempting to find resources to feed litter after litter of kittens, their time is spent caring for themselves. Cats that are spayed or neutered no longer display many nuisance behaviors including yowling, fighting and spraying. With targeted and consistent spay/neuter efforts, communities will see their neighborhood community cat population stabilize and, over time, naturally decline.
There are a lot of cats living outside in my neighborhood. What should I do?
In Alexandria, it is not illegal for cats to live outside, and cats who have not been socialized to live with humans would not be able to acclimate to a life indoors. READ MORE about these “community cats” and how you can help local cat population in your area.
