Found a kitten? What to do in the first 24 hours

First move

Wait and watch from a distance for a few hours — the mother is often close by1

Handle kittens as little as possible

Only pick one up if it's in direct danger; too much handling can make a mother reject her litter1

Never

Cow's or goat's milk — protein and fat levels are too low for a kitten2

If truly orphaned

Keep her warm, use a proper kitten milk replacer only, and get her to a vet or rescue group23

Call a vet now if

She's cold to the touch, won't stop crying, isn't feeding, or isn't gaining weight2

Wait and watch, first

A kitten found alone isn't always orphaned. Her mother may be out hunting or hiding nearby, and will often only return once people and pets have moved away1. Watch quietly from a distance for a few hours before deciding she needs you.

Handle her as little as possible in the meantime. Cats Protection's guidance for kittens found outside is to "not disturb or handle them unless they are in direct and immediate danger," because a mother may reject kittens that have been handled too much1.

How to tell she's really orphaned

• The mother hasn't returned after a few hours of watching from a distance1.
• The kitten is cold to the touch, crying constantly, or clearly weak12.
• She's in immediate danger — on a road, in an engine bay, or somewhere she can't get out of on her own1.

Kitten season in India

If she's truly alone: the first few hours

• Keep her warm — a kitten this young can't regulate her own body temperature. A box lined with a towel, with a covered hot-water bottle or a heating pad set to low, works until you reach a vet3.
• Never give cow's or goat's milk. International Cat Care is direct: "Never use cow or goat's milk to feed kittens as protein and fat levels are too low"3. See why milk upsets a cat for the fuller reasoning.
• If you must feed her before reaching a vet, use only a proper kitten milk replacer from a vet clinic or pet shop, warmed, never cold3. Don't improvise with sugar water or dilute cow's milk.
• Keep handling calm and brief, and get her to a vet or a local rescue group as soon as you can — they can check her age, warmth and hydration properly23.

When to call a vet now

Checked against vet sources. Not yet reviewed by a vet.

• She's cold to the touch, limp, or won't stop crying2.
• She's not feeding, or not gaining weight — a healthy young kitten should spend about 90% of her time eating or sleeping3.
• She looks injured, very thin, or has a matted, dirty coat1.
• You're not sure of her age or whether she's actually orphaned — a vet or rescue group can tell faster than guessing at home23.

Settling in, after the vet

Sources and how we check

Facts checked against the official and veterinary sources below by Thapki. Not yet reviewed by a vet. Written with AI help from the sources below, then checked line by line; the Thapki team reads and approves every page before it goes live. How we check

• 1Found a catCats Protection · seen 5 Oct 2026
• 2Kitten Care (cat owner version)Merck Veterinary Manual · seen 5 Oct 2026
• 3Hand-rearing kittensInternational Cat Care (iCatCare) · seen 5 Oct 2026