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| Home / What We Do / Care for Cats / Socialized Cat Guide / How and When to Care for and Socialize Feral Kittens
When you come across outdoor kittens, you may feel the need to immediately pick them up and bring them home with you, but that might not be the best thing for the kittens–or for you. Here are some guidelines on how to decide if kittens in a colony should be removed and socialized for adoption, and how to care for them should you choose to remove them and raise or socialize them yourself. You can find more in-depth information by ordering kitten care products from our online marketplace. These guidelines are just that, and they should not be used as a substitute for veterinary care. In addition to the information below, consider looking into Feral Friends in your area. These are local individuals, organizations, and veterinarians or clinics that may be able to help with hands-on advice, information about borrowing equipment, and veterinarians or clinics that can spay and neuter feral cats. Request a list of Feral Friends in your area.
Deciding whether or not to remove kittens depends on a number of variables. Keep in mind that kittens not handled at an early age remain feral. The older they get the less likely it is that they will ever become socialized to humans, in which case it may be better for them to remain in their outdoor home. However, some kittens may need intervention if they are not doing well.
Remember that early weaning of kittens who seem to be doing well may lead to increased mortality or failure to thrive. Although kittens begin weaning prior to eight weeks of age, they should remain with their mother until then to learn proper behavior and socialization. Ultimately, you have to use your own judgment depending on the kitten’s circumstances and your time and resources. The best way to help all of the cats in the colony is to perform Trap-Neuter-Return and not spend all your time socializing kittens. Read our How to Conduct Trap-Neuter-Return guide. Follow these basic guidelines to help you decide. Feral kittens can be socialized if caught at an early age. There is no hard and fast rule on how many weeks old is “too old” for a kitten to be handled, or how long the socialization process will take. Typically, the older the kitten is, the longer it will take to socialize her. Based on your circumstances, and the kitten’s, in some cases it may be better for both of you if the kitten is returned to her colony after surgery. The following are guidelines that may help you estimate the kitten's age. Keep in mind these are just guidelines, not steadfast rules that will apply to every kitten. - How to Determine Kitten Age
See photos of kitten progression from day 1 to ten weeks old.
- Under one week: (3-8 oz) Eyes are shut, ears are folded down, and kittens are unable to walk. They can purr and make tiny noises. The umbilical cord may still be visible.
- One-two weeks: (8-11 oz) Eyes start to open (they are blue) and focus. Ears begin to open and movement is improved to crawling, snuggling, and kneading.
- Three weeks: (7.5-14.5 oz) Eyes fully open and ears are open and standing up. The kitten will start to respond to noises and movement. The first wobbly steps are taken and baby teeth start to come in.
- Four-five weeks: (8-16.75 oz) Running, playing, digging, and pouncing occur often. Kittens will start to wean and will be able to lap up formula, eat soft food, and use the litter box by themselves. Eyes have fully changed from blue to their adult color.
- Eight weeks: (2 lbs) Kittens look like little versions of full grown cats. This is the best age at which to begin the socialization process.
- What to Do When You Find Kitten(s) Alone or Motherless
If you find very young kittens that are alone, you must determine if the mother has abandoned them or if she is just off looking for food. The only way to find this out is to wait. Observe from a distance or a hidden spot for a few hours to be sure she is not returning. If she does come back, you have multiple options to consider, outlined below. If she does not, you will need to determine if the kittens are young enough to be socialized, fostered or adopted, or if they are at the age to be trapped, neutered, and returned.
- If the mother does come back:
- You can trap the mother, pick up the kittens, and bring the whole family indoors into a quiet, small room (like a bathroom), or large cage. This option is best for semi-feral or socialized mother cats, as confinement is not an option for feral cats.
- If the mother is feral, you can leave the family outside where they are. The mother cat is definitely best able to care for the kittens. Provide a nice shelter (find outdoor cat house ideas), food, and water and make the environment as safe as possible for them. Once the kittens are weaned, you can place them in foster care for adoption and then trap, spay, and return the feral mother cat.
- If you feel the mother cat is not caring for the kittens properly or they are in danger, you can take the kittens away from her and raise them yourself. Remember, it is best for kittens to be with their mother for the first eight weeks. If you choose to remove the kittens from their mothers, be sure to spay the mother cat so you don’t encounter more of her kittens in the future.
Next Step: How to Care for Neonatal Kittens
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