Taking care of tiny kittens can be time consuming and expensive, but the rewards are giant. Learn more about what it takes to care for orphaned kittens.
WEEK 1
Our shelter manager receives a call from a partner shelter that is overwhelmed with kittens. There is a litter of orphaned kittens that needs help, otherwise they will be put down. The partner wants to know: Can Pets In Need help?
Our team heads to the partner shelter to evaluate the kittens, and alerts our medical team if there are signs of illness or a medical condition. The kittens are loaded into the Pets In Need rescue van and taken to the kitten nursery at our Redwood City shelter.
Rescue Run: $250
WEEK 2-3
Once at our shelter, our medical team conducts a thorough examination of each kitten. Kittens that are less than a few days old are neonates, or, as we like to call them, “bottle babies.”
The first month is the most dangerous time in a cat’s life, as they require feedings every two to three hours, temperature regulation, and because they are susceptible to illness and disease.
The kittens will not survive by themselves overnight, so they must be sent into foster care. We provide our foster families with the supplies they need, including formula, bottles, syringes, a crate, soft bedding. Foster families provide feedings every few hours, and keep the kittens warm.
Food and Supplies: $435
Includes formula, bottles and syringes, scale, blankets, travel crate, Pedialyte, dewormer and staff support.
WEEK 4
By now the kittens’ eyes have opened, they are no longer wobbly on their feet when walking, and even enjoy playtime. They can hear and while still dependent on a bottle, the foster volunteer may be starting to experiment with solid food.
Additional Supplies and Medical Check-Up: $402*
Includes vaccines and medications, wet and dry food, litter box and litter, and staff support.
WEEK 5-8
At 5 weeks, the kittens are showing off their developing personalities. They bounce around their enclosure, wrestle and play with one another. Most love to be pet and will purr with appreciation. They are still too young to be adopted, but they are now only a few weeks away from receiving their vaccines and spay or neuter surgery. Once they reach 8 weeks and weigh 2 pounds, they will be returned to the shelter to be spayed or neutered and placed up for adoption.
Medical Care: $200 per kitten
WEEK 9
The kittens have said farewell to their foster family and are at the shelter waiting to be adopted. Our animal care team diligently cleans their enclosure and provides the kittens with food, socialization and other necessities. Soon, each kitten will go home with a loving family.
Daily Food, Supplies and Care: $60 per kitten daily
Every kitten Pets In Need rescues costs an average of $712 to care for. Multiply that number by hundreds, and you’ll see that the kittens we rescue are living proof of the impact of your support.
You can make a donation to Pets In Need or purchase an item from our wishlist to ensure that more young kittens get their second chance at life.