What to do if you find a stray kitten

The first reaction for many people when they see a stray kitten is to immediately pick it up and bring it into their home.

However, that’s not advised, said Kim Munsch, a veterinary technician at the Delaware SPCA in Stanton. She shared these tips for our Pet Tip Tuesday column.

Leave it alone

If the kitten is very little you should leave it alone for the time being, Munsch advised.

The kitten is likely still being raised by its mother and she will probably return soon looking for it. Also, if you the take the kitten away from its mother too early, it can lead to health issues for the kitten when it is older, Munsch said.

Handle with care

Once the kitten is older, approximately 3 months old, then you can attempt to get it and take it into the SPCA, Munsch said.

Before even attempting to pick up the cat, take your own safety into account, Munsch said. You should not touch the kitten with your bare hands. Start by wearing a thicker pair of gloves, like gardening or leather gloves, and then it’s best to put a towel over the kitten before placing it inside a secure pet carrier. Putting a towel over the kitten will allow the kitten to focus on something else instead of being picking up and taken to a strange place, Munsch said.  

Follow these safety instructions to prevent any biting or scratching, because “You don’t know what (diseases) the kitten maybe carrying," Munsch said.

Initial visit

Once you bring it to the SPCA, it will be checked for feline leukemia and feline AIDS, Munsch said. 

Then, the kitten will get a general physical, Munsch said. It also will be vaccinated and then you can decide whether you want to bring the kitten home with you or leave it with the SPCA where it will go up for adoption, Munsch said.