It can be alarming to see a litter of neonatal kittens out in the wild. In kitten season, this is a fairly regular occurrence. Your first instinct may be to scoop them up and bring them home, but it's important to assess the situation first.
What is kitten season?
Kitten season is the warm part of the year when longer daylight triggers female cats to come into heat and breed. Many un‑desexed cats become pregnant quickly, and animal shelters typically receive an influx of newborn kittens during this period.
RSPCA SA sees a dramatic rise of neonatal kittens each kitten season and relies on community awareness and action to give these animals the best chance of survival.
What to do if you find neonatal kittens (0-4 weeks)
Neonatal kittens rely on their mum for everything (basically the same as a newborn baby!).
Neonatal kittens can be identified by their:
- Closed eyes
- Folded ears
- Inability to stand
- Inability to eat on their own
If you find a litter of neonatal kittens, it's best to leave them where they are unless they are in immediate danger. Neonatal kittens have the best chance of survival with their mother.
Mum provides warmth, colostrum and protection that is difficult to replicate at home. Observe quietly from a distance and avoid handling the kittens. Your presence may keep mum away, so monitor without approaching.
Check safety from afar. If the kittens are sheltered, warm, and not visibly injured, leave them and return later to check.
When to intervene
Only intervene if the kittens are in immediate danger, cold, wet, injured, or left unattended for an extended period (around 3-6 hours) and mum does not return.
After monitoring for several hours, contact your local council for help and guidance as a first step. Councils can advise on local stray‑animal services, humane trapping, and available resources.
Councils often coordinate with shelters and rescue groups during kitten season and can assist with safe relocation if needed. Making your council aware of a kitten situation helps protect the animals and the wider community.
If you decide to care for the kittens
You can care for kittens yourself if the mother does not return and you have the time and resources. Provide immediate warmth to the kittens and contact your local vet for feeding and product recommendations.
If you cannot care for them personally, find a friend, neighbour, or local foster who can.
Once you've exhausted the options above, you can then contact your local shelter. Here at RSPCA SA, we experience an influx in rescued and surrendered neonatal kittens, and we know other local animal shelters experience the exact same situation.
Please note that your local shelter might not be able to take your kittens, however, they can provide good advice.
Most shelters, including RSPCA SA, may lack the resources to provide on-site care for so many orphaned kittens. Our capacity changes constantly, especially during kitten season.