It's Kitten Season: Here's What To Do If You Find Kittens Alone Outside
Spring is finally here, and baby animals are popping up around every corner. From curious little goslings to baby bears leaving their dens for the first time, it's the perfect time of year for babies to explore the world. That's why it's important to remember that wild animals aren't the only ones welcoming their little ones when the weather warms up.
In the animal world, spring is known as kitten season, too. Since cats go into heat when the weather first begins to thaw, most kittens are born between mid-spring and early fall. This can be an overwhelming time for mama cats, kittens, and the people who care for them, but anyone can step up to help kittens who need it this time of year. So, what should you do if you find kittens alone outside?
What To Do If You Find Kittens
There's no doubt that kittens are adorable, but finding one or more kittens alone outdoors can be concerning, to say the least. For many people, their first instinct is to bundle them up and whisk them indoors-or even to an animal rescue-but Best Friends warns that this may do more harm than good. Despite most folks' good intentions, moving kittens from the spot where they were found can put them in grave danger.
Best Friends explains, "What many people don't realize is that the safest plan for the kittens ― and one that also decreases the burden on shelters ― is to leave the kittens where they are, keep an eye out for the mother cat's return to make sure she's caring for her babies and, once they're old enough, humanely catch the family for spay/neuter surgery."
Related: Kitten Season Is Here-What It Is And How to Help Your Local Animal Shelter
Mother cats often leave their kittens to hunt for food or search for a new shelter, but she won't know where to find her babies if someone 'rescues' them. If they are truly in an unsafe spot, moving them out of the way while remaining as close as possible is also acceptable. However, there are also some occasions when mama cats just don't come back!
Newborn kittens need feeding every few hours to grow up big and strong, so it's essential to get orphaned kittens help right away. They may need to be fostered by someone trained in bottle-feeding, though sometimes orphaned kittens even get 'adopted' by lactating mama cats.
How to Help This Kitten Season
Even if you're not in a position to rescue kittens and mama cats, there are many ways you can help. Donating funds or supplies to a local animal shelter is never a bad idea! Many shelters have wish lists and donation campaigns to help raise funds for specific causes, though you don't have to donate in order to make a difference. Spending time volunteering and caring for animals is one of the greatest gifts you can give!
Kitten season is the perfect time of year to practice building your foster skills, too. Many bottle-fed baby kittens survive their early days with regular TLC, but they gain more and more independence every day. They'll be fully grown cats before anyone sees it coming!
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This story was originally published April 16, 2026 at 9:45 AM.