It isn’t uncommon to see stray cats wandering around your neighborhood or hiding under your porch for safety, but what if they stay there for too long?  Many times female felines need to find a safe spot to have their kittens and nurse them until they are strong enough to fend for themselves.  That spot may end up being beneath your deck or in a crack under your shed and it is not an easy or safe task to try and get rid of them.

No matter what, you need to make sure that the kittens are not harmed or estranged from their mother.  If the mother does disappear, which can happen occasionally if she abandons her kittens to move on and find food, it is important to give the babies what they need to survive.  One of the most common misconceptions is that you should give kittens milk in a bowl as a substitute for their mothers’ milk.  The milk that humans drink does have calcium and other vitamins that support healthy growth, but it is very different from the milk they are used to.  That means that the milk you feed them can lead to stomach issues and digestion problems that put the kitten in danger.  The best solution is to go to a pet store and find a formula that you can mix up that is made specifically for kittens because it has the proper balance for their health needs and will support growth properly.

Offering the kittens some tuna or cat food made specifically for kittens can also be beneficial as they grow and develop.  You can put a bowl of food out for the kittens to share, but you need to be aware that there may be a kitten who is smaller and doesn’t get as much food as the others.  If you notice this happening, attempt to lure this kitten from the others and provide it with a little food of its’ own.  The runt of the litter can sometimes die naturally in the wild because it’s not strong enough to survive, but there is no need for this to happen if you are taking care of them.  You must also carefully monitor how much food you give them and how often because, unless you plan on keeping the kittens forever, they will need to learn to fend for themselves eventually.  You can slowly wean them off your food as they grow to encourage them to venture off and find their own food sources and learn to survive.

It’s pretty easy to find the right supplies at a pet store since they carry everything from kitten formula to dish packages that allow you to give both food and water.  You may even find the newest pet for your family right outside your home!