05/23/2026
FOUND KITTENS? READ THIS ⬇️
We recently learned of a litter of 4 kittens who lost their mother after she was hit by a car. Someone tried to help by bottle feeding, but because they did not know the proper care neonatal kittens require, the kittens were kept outside in cold temperatures. Sadly, all 4 kittens passed away.
This is not being shared to shame anyone. It is being shared because education saves lives.
If you ever find a litter of kittens, reach out for help right away. Rescues, shelters, veterinarians, and experienced neonatal fosters can help guide you before things go wrong.
If you ever find a litter of kittens, here’s what you can do:
• First, look for mom. If kittens are warm, quiet, and appear healthy, mom may be nearby hunting or hiding. Watch from a distance before moving them.
• If mom has died or kittens are truly orphaned, get them warm FIRST. Neonatal kittens cannot regulate their body temperature. Kittens generally need a body temperature around 97–100°F to properly digest, and should not be fed if their temperature is below about 95°F. Feeding a cold kitten can be deadly.
• Do NOT keep them outside. Even if days seem warm, nights in Northern Michigan are still far too cold for fragile kittens. You also risk losing them to predators and illness.
• Bottle feeding is NOT as simple as it looks. Kittens must be fed the correct formula, at the right temperature, in the proper position, and at the right pace. If formula enters the airway instead of the stomach (aspiration), it can cause aspiration pneumonia or death. This can happen if a kitten is fed incorrectly, fed while cold or weak, or is unable to swallow properly.
• Never feed a kitten on its back like a human baby. Kittens should be belly-down in a natural nursing position.
• Do NOT give cow’s milk. Kittens need kitten formula made specifically for them.
• Very young kittens also need help urinating and defecating after feedings, and they need to eat every few hours around the clock.
Not every person knows what to do when they find kittens — and that’s okay. But neonatal kittens are incredibly fragile, and trying to “figure it out” without guidance can cost lives.
If you find kittens and aren’t sure what to do, PLEASE ask for help right away. A quick message or phone call can mean the difference between life and death.
