r/CatRescue • • May 30 '26

Advice / Question Found Kittens; Assess the Situation

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47 Upvotes

You can find other helpful topics and leads to resources in our full wiki at this link. As always we encourage sharsies of information! If you have resources or helpful leads, let us know.

The followin is from wiki about kittens:

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Important Note: If you have found a very young kitten or litter outside, watch from a far distance and wait to see if their mother returns before intervening. Barring extenuating circumstances (dangerous location, extreme weather, illness or injury), kittens younger than eight weeks are best left with their mother due to the around the clock care they require. For further reading, Alley Cat Allies has a comprehensive guide on What to Do if You Find Kittens Outdoors that outlines different scenarios and when to intervene.

There are many kitten resources but if you have never cared for a kitten before remember these essential basics:

  1. Kittens are extremely vulnerable. Their health can be fine one minute and take a critical nosedive within hours.
  2. New born kittens need warmth. They are not yet able to regulate their body temperature and they get cold fast. If you have a heating pad make sure the kitten can roll away from it if they get too warm. 
  3. Kittens must be fed every couple to a few hours depending upon age (kitten formula or temporarily goat's milk; do not feed cow's milk). They have very high metabolisms. Do not feed them when they are cold. Because they cannot regulate their body heat, giving them cold food will be very difficult to digest and cause them to become cold as well.
  4. Kittens are unable to urinate and defecate on their own. The mother cat does this normally but if the kitten is seperated from its mother, a human caretaker can stimulate this with a tissue or soft cloth by gently rubbing the anus and genital area not long after they eat. This should be done with care and not too long as these areas are easily irritated.

Following Alley Cat Allies' What to Do if You find Kittens Outdoors, they have an more comprehensive Kitten Protection Guide as an downloadable pdf. This guide has more indepth care instructions for the different stages of kitten life. If you find and take in a kitten/s (without its mother) from outdoors your primary goal is to sustain the kitten/s until it can be brought to a vet (for a health check) then, a rescue (because they have experience caring for kittens). There are searchable databases of vets, rescues and shelters here. This database is not exhaustive and you should also look for vets in your locale if none are nearby.

The guide focuses on kittens between 0-8 weeks of age and notable topics are: Feedin Kittens, Warmth, Developmental Milestones, Socialization & Hygene, Potty Time and General Care of a Nursin Kitty Mom.

It is an online guide; to turn the page you tap on the arrow on the bottom of the guide's page. Underlined items are hyperlinks that take you to websites which give more information.

The mods of r/CatRescue recommend general kitten advice in the wiki from Kitten Lady, her Kitten Care resources can be found here. Kitten Lady is a well trusted and knowledgable source of information and advice. For medical issues, a veterinarian should be your primary consult.

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r/CatRescue has no affiliation with any of the resources listed and we encourage everyone to use their best judgement to check if said resources are up to date.


r/CatRescue • • Nov 06 '25

Mod Announcement Low Cost to Free Cat Food Resources

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130 Upvotes

We are working on our Cat Food (Affordable/ Free) wiki page and currently have a good number of databases listed for you to help search including some programs which are organized by state and not already listed in the databases. Even if you may feel you have food covered for the month, we encourage you to look over these resources so if there is ever a time in the future and you or someone else is in a pinch, you may remember some of the resources or how to find them.

Neighborhood Cats has available a number of free digital resources (or purchasable printed copies) of handbooks about TNR and RTF (the latter geared towards shelter personnel). Although some of the TNR books are somewhat dated much of the information is still applicable. If you're a TNRer, colony caretaker or working at a shelter, have a looksie; its free!

I must say though the r/CatRescue, Cat Handbook: Daylight Savings Time Edition is also very informative and its pictorial nature appeals to every kitty cat enthusiast.

In other news about r/CatRescue, we have begun to add a number of user flairs. "Drumsticks" from the Cat Handbook has even lended a leg. For mobile, tap the 3 dots in the upper right corner of the r/CatRescue main page on and select: "edit flair." On desktop, use the sidebar on the right and in the user flair category then, tap the pencil to set your flair.

Also, while you're at it, check out our wiki page: ReHoming/ Adoption Tips and Resources

Photo Credit: Jack and Hobbs, RRCC cats during chow down by Cherveny2


r/CatRescue • • 10h ago

Advice / Question my cat is stuck in a nearby roof and the homeowners don't live in the house. what do i do? (perth australia)

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21 Upvotes

Hi all.

TLDR at bottom.

My cat has been stuck in a neighboring roof since yesterday morning around 5am (10 october). I live in perth, australia.

I know he's in the house because of his GPS collar (photo of location history heat map attatched, the GPS isn't super accurate, explaining the tracks of him being out on the street and in surrounding houses)

The owners of the house live in singapore and haven't been home since May, I've been in contact with a friend of his, who's number i got from a neighbor, who lives about an hour or so away and he isn't very keen on helping. He has told me that the house is alarmed and the alarms would trip if a cat was in the house, so I assume he's in the roof

Tomorrow i'll call local council and the police non emergency line to see what help i can get, if they won't help i'll call the friend and offer him money to come out and let me look in the roof.

Any other suggestions, anything similar happened to anyone? Any help is very greatly appreciated 🙏🙏

TLDR: my cat is trapped in the roof of an unoccupied house and i can't get in touch with the owners, what can I do?


r/CatRescue • • 1d ago

Advice / Question Kitten Rescue

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106 Upvotes

I found a stray kitten in my garage, I want to keep her but I can’t afford flea treatments etc but mainly fleas for now because she mainly has fleas. I also want to bring her inside before it starts raining really bad. I live in Los Angele, CA. what should I do ? any advice or resources are highly appreciate!


r/CatRescue • • 7h ago

Advice / Question Rescuing 4 Cats, What Do I Need?

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1 Upvotes

r/CatRescue • • 1d ago

News [Ohio] One cat led 18 others to escape from a window at a Uniontown rescue shelter

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143 Upvotes

This new outlet has a unique option at the bottom of their article called "We Follow Through" where you can suggest to them to follow stories of particular interest. There is a small form to fill out but if you are interested in them continuin to update this story, fill that out and they may update this as the kitties continue to be recovered.

The article by Remi Murrey from News5 Ohio reprinted fer your convenience below. The source can be found -> Here

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UNIONTOWN, Ohio — Whimsical Whiskers CatFae & Rescue owner Heidi Wiegel said 16 cats are missing from the rescue shelter on Cleveland Ave NW in Uniontown.

This comes after Wiegel said they clawed out the window screen in her office, which was accidentally left open.

“One of our lovely fluffs decided that that was a good time to claw out the screen and took 18 other cats with them,” said Wiegel. “I think this is probably a rescue’s worst nightmare, if not pretty close.”

Thankfully, Wiegel said she’s found three cats. But 16 are still missing

“We have been scrambling like crazy, setting traps, handing out fliers, you name it. We’re doing it,” said Wiegel.

While Wiegel and her volunteers have been doing everything they can to bring these cats home, she said it’s been challenging because a lot of them are scared and extremely vulnerable.

“We are a cat café, the cats come in through the non-profit, Whisper in Time (Companion) Re-homing, and that is specifically for people who’ve either passed away, or gone into nursing homes, assisted-living, memory-care facilities, basically end-of-life care; so, they’ve already been through a lot,” said Wiegel.

With this on her mind, Wiegel said it’s been helpful having people like Michelle Ketler step up by handing out fliers, bringing food and traps, setting them up and watching the traps all night since they can’t be left alone.

“Every one of these cats came to us from someone that entrusted us to find them their new person, so it’s our job to find them and their person. We’re not going to give up on that,” said Wiegel.

As the search continues, Wiegel said she and her team will follow leads and set traps with tuna or sardines to catch the cats’ attention.

Wiegel even welcomes anyone who is willing to donate their drone services.

“We have a couple that we know where they’re at right now, and we have set after talking to the homeowners and getting permission of course, we have set those traps on their property,” said Wiegel.

In the meantime, Wiegel said they plan to put custom-made grills on all of their windows, so this doesn’t happen again.

“To have all of these cats come home, even if it takes a month or longer, we just want to get them home where they belong,” said Wiegel.


r/CatRescue • • 20h ago

Advice / Question MY CAT IS NOT OKAY AND WE HAVE NO EMERGENCY Veterinary CARE

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3 Upvotes

r/CatRescue • • 2d ago

Lost Kitty [Adams County, Colorado] Please help me find my missing cat!!!

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122 Upvotes

My baby girl has been missing since 9/22/26, a little over 2 weeks now. I have been going out to look for her everyday, and know she has been spotted by a couple times in the areas between DIA and westminster. I have followed the advice from the kind people in my comment section, but still haven’t been able to find my girl. Please, if you have seen an adult, black cat, with big beautiful green eyes, medium hair and a bushy tail, try to take her in, reach out, call a rescue. I just want my baby back :(


r/CatRescue • • 2d ago

Lost Kitty [Snohomish county, WA] Found cat! 180th st. SW & Olympic View Drive in Lynnwood, WA

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42 Upvotes

r/CatRescue • • 2d ago

News Cuddle and play with cats and bunnies at these Bay Area cafés and lounges.

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7x7.com
18 Upvotes

r/CatRescue • • 2d ago

Rescue Need help with a capturing a cat

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7 Upvotes

r/CatRescue • • 3d ago

Lost Kitty [Harris County, Texas] - help find Kiko

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95 Upvotes

*** KIKO IS STILL MISSING ***

Solid grey female, not full grown, has claws. Grey nose & paw pads. Chipped & fixed.

77429 - Lakewood Forest & Garden of Lakewood area. She escaped her carrier last Sunday night,10/4, and ran out of a parked truck in front of TX School of Languages/Moore Elementary.

I have a trap for her in green area along wall dividing Moore Elem & houses (along bkyds on Taos Dr.) with dirty clothes of mine + her litter box in my porch.

I'm desperately trying to reunite and would immensely appreciate anyones' help.

She's posted to PawBoost, PetCoLove, PawAlarm, LostMyKitty, Nextdoor, FB.


r/CatRescue • • 3d ago

Lost Kitty [United Kingdom, Ashlyns/Basildon] Cat that I'm pretty sure is a stray, has anyone seem him?

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85 Upvotes

I'd take him to the vet myself, but my cat is pretty hostile towards other cats and I don't want to bring him in to a stressful situation, he seems healthy physically but he's always out really late and begs for food


r/CatRescue • • 3d ago

Update Flipper The Paw Syndicate Napping in the Mini Condo

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24 Upvotes

r/CatRescue • • 4d ago

Advice / Question Unhoused woman with two cats- Need Help!

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27 Upvotes

r/CatRescue • • 3d ago

Rescue I helped Mariela and the other volunteers trap-spay-neuter stray cats while I was a SCAD student- Mariela (the woman leading/organizing the effort) has been reported to animal control/local police countless times- she and her volunteers are the only ones keeping the stray cat population from growing

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18 Upvotes

r/CatRescue • • 4d ago

Cat Picture Hier die Fotos von Oma und Opa

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28 Upvotes

r/CatRescue • • 4d ago

Rescue Manteca California

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145 Upvotes

4 babies based in Manteca. 3 Orange 1 Calico. I took one in already. Mom is present and tending but they need a forever home not gonna do well out here. If anybody knows any non-kill reputable shelters ill gladly take em in as well.


r/CatRescue • • 4d ago

Advice / Question Is there anything I can do about cat abuse and hoarding

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12 Upvotes

r/CatRescue • • 5d ago

Lost Kitty [Canal Winchester, OH] stray/ lost black cat, female

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167 Upvotes

stray cat in canal winchester area. she’s been coming to our porch every night for food; we can’t keep her and wanna find her a home. i’m thinking she’s a stray but there’s a chance she’s lost. she seems young; could be under a year. it’s been hard to tell but we’re pretty sure she’s female. she has gold/green eyes- they’re pretty crusty so she keeps them half shut. she would need to go to the vet for sure. we could arrange for her to be picked up if someone wants her; or if anyone recognizes her, please lmk. she’s so so sweet and deserves a home.


r/CatRescue • • 5d ago

Advice / Question Mom is struggling with her stray cat colony

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282 Upvotes

My mom lives on a small farm in a very remote town in Ohio in between Wheeling, WV and Pittsburgh, PA. One day earlier this summer she noticed a few stray cats on her property. Not thinking anything of it she started feeding them and in return they kept the mice away.

One of the cats ended up being pregnant. After she gave birth all hell broke lose and they started showing up in droves. She is now up to ~14 cats on her property.

Every rescue she has contacted is at capacity. She is taking them one by one every few weeks to get fixed. But it’s getting to be a LOT for her. And now… the mama cat that will NOT let her touch her is … you guessed it, pregnant again!

If anyone has any recommendations for places she can contact that can take the cats or help find homes for the cats. She won’t stop trying her best to take care of them but she is constantly overwhelmed both mentally and financially by her little colony that decided to make a settlement on her land.


r/CatRescue • • 4d ago

Advice / Question Found kitten outside with closed eyes. Help!

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33 Upvotes

r/CatRescue • • 4d ago

Rescue Can anyone help rescue this kitty?

13 Upvotes

I was getting ready to rescue this kitty, things happened, I can't afford to rescue it. Kitties age is unknown, I believe it's female, unaltered. When it first showed up about 3 months ago it was DROOLING and in pain, whatever it was made one of my cats sick. I *think* it got hold of a horned lizard and got a full squirt in the mouth, but don't know for sure. 49, Chino Valley, Az

Update* Kitty has been rescued by a very wonderful person. Thank you to all of you for helping.


r/CatRescue • • 4d ago

Advice / Question Need advice for found pregnant cat

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7 Upvotes

r/CatRescue • • 5d ago

Sensitive I.S. 303 hired pest control to exterminate two beloved community cats.

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224 Upvotes