Found very young kittens, may need help

My son just called to say that he and a friend found 3 tiny kittens in a parking lot off of Springfield Ave. I'm going to pick him up now, and am not sure if the kittens will remain at the friend's house or we'll end up bringing them here. From what he described, I think they're going to require bottle feeding. He said no mom cat was in sight, and they looked like they were struggling.

@bigben_again, if I bring them home, do you think you can guide me through their early care? I have no experience with caring for kittens that young.

I'm hoping the kits will be okay. I bottle fed one before I really understood what was necessary, that is, round the clock feedings. She did survive and outlived her teat fed brothers..

Thanks, ml.

The other parents and I agreed to leave the kittens where the kids found them, though we nestled them in a small, shallow box with a towel, in the hopes that mama cat would be looking for them after finding food for herself, as neither of us was prepared to help them, at least overnight when there was no place to get the milk replacer.

I'd guess the kits are about 1 week old or so. They were mewing and crawling over one another for warmth, but still seemed to have their eyes closed. The friend who lives nearby will check their status in the morning and we can intervene then if necessary.

Jasper-- where off Springfield Ave?

jeanne, they're actually on Hilton just east of Prospect, here

I would be happy to show someone how to take care of motherless kittens and can even bring some models for demonstration purposes. These are hot out of the oven.

Oh, gosh, bigben, what a gorgeous mix of colorful cuties. I didn't connect with the friend's parents this morning, so not sure what the status is, but will follow up when I get home. Thanks, as always, for your offer to provide guidance. I'll keep you posted on developments.

Keep me posted, too... I'm in the area and can help if needed.

Any update on the kittehs

Jasper, hauscat has experience and might be able to guide you some. At least, IIRC, she has done this. If the kittens have lost their mother, they won't survive the cold outdoors overnight. It is getting too chilly, and kittens that young need extra warmth.

A bit of a tangent...

For several months now, Maplewood has had a contract with St. Hubert's for animal control services. In fact, the St Hubert's ACO who handles our area is Debbie Hadu, whose name may be familiar as the former ACO of Maplewood. Maplewood residents, please be aware that you have a much better, more humane option than Associated Humane of Newark.

Please also note that in addition to Furry Hearts Rescue, Maplewood residents who need help with TNR can call St. Hubert's for assistance. If you know of a Maplewood resident in need of such help because of an overabundance of cats, please let him/her know. In my opinion, we are very fortunate the majority of our Township Committee voted to do a TNR pilot in Maplewood because it opened St. Hubert's doors to us. Take advantage of it!

Thanks, bigben, I didn't know that, and will let the friend's parents know for future reference.

Ugh. Doesn't The Newark shelter have a high kill ratio!

Yes, AHS doeshave a high kill rate. Please spread the word that Maplewood has St. Hubert's and Furry Hearts to help with feral cats.

Poor things.

If I go to the shelter will they give them to me if I ask for them ??

The thought of knowing they might be put to sleep upsets me ..

HarleyQuinn--That's incredibly kind of you to do that and I think it's worth a try. The worst that can happen is AHS Newark says no.

My experience with AHS is old, but it was positive. When I adopted my cat from there they had kittens who were too young to be adopted out and said they had a "hold" on them until they reached an adoptable age. While there with me my sister fell in love with another cat and saw from his paperwork that he had been there for two years. She adopted him the next day.

AHS does have a high kill rate, but I believe that is mostly in regards to stray dogs since they are brought in on a regular basis, so the kittens probably have a better chance. Since cats seen outside without a leash or owner in sight are not automatically picked up as dogs are, cats tend to make a lower percentage of the daily intake, so there is more hope that they will spend the time and resources on these kitties. Also, most pounds know that young puppies and kittens have a much better chance of being adopted, so that also increases their chances of not being euthanized at the end of the seven day waiting period.

As horrible as a high kill rate is, the truth is that it is just a symptom of a wider problem of people not having their pets spayed and neutered. Low kill and no kill shelters just are not able to keep up with the intake. It is impossible for an animal shelter to take in and properly house every animal that comes in. Preventing those thousands of puppies and kittens from being born in the first place will do more to stop the slaughter of homeless pets than villainizing an animal shelter that can either accept all strays brought in or be low/no kill, but cannot realistically do both.

Years back two different friends of mine, S and H, got kittens. Neither had them spayed. In S's case his one kitten ended up turning into over 40. When I met Dick Ash I mentioned S and his cats, and he remembered the house due to his having to remove all the cats when S and his family moved out and left the 40+ cats behind. H's situation didn't turn out as bad, in her case her one unspayed kitten turned into about 10 cats. In both cases I repeatedly told them, multiple times, that they needed to get the cats spayed. S said he didn't have the money, H said it was "cruel" to put a cat through that. My begging and pleading may not have changed their minds, but I felt my time was better spent attempting to convince them to change rather than to get angry with the animal shelter who eventually would be stuck dealing with the mess.

I understand that many people don't feel comfortable talking directly about this to friends or family when they see them allowing their pets to have litters. They don't want to feel judgmental. But if you aren't willing to step up and say something directly to the people causing this problem, then please don't then paint animal shelters as cruel places. Believe me, shelter workers at high kill shelter don't come to work in the morning hoping to kill as many animals as possible. Rather they come in knowing they have no empty cages left and their hearts drop when they then see the ACO trucks show up with whatever strays they have picked up that day, knowing full well that no vacancies and new arrivals means that difficult and painful choices have to be made.

I'm heart broken !!

I just called AHS so I can pick up the kitties and according to them all 3 kitties were covered with maggots and were put down to sleep.

I asked all three of them ?? And she said yes.

I'm googling "maggots in kitties" and they can survive if they are threated.

The lady that I talked to just said they were covered with maggots so they were put down. I'm sure they didn't even consider to threat them. They had no chance

What a shame! I found a kitten who had maggots. Dr Stack treated her, and she was fine

Please listen to Bigben ... Animals really don't stand a chanc in AHS.

bigben_again said:
A bit of a tangent...
For several months now, Maplewood has had a contract with St. Hubert's for animal control services. In fact, the St Hubert's ACO who handles our area is Debbie Hadu, whose name may be familiar as the former ACO of Maplewood. Maplewood residents, please be aware that you have a much better, more humane option than Associated Humane of Newark.
Please also note that in addition to Furry Hearts Rescue, Maplewood residents who need help with TNR can call St. Hubert's for assistance. If you know of a Maplewood resident in need of such help because of an overabundance of cats, please let him/her know. In my opinion, we are very fortunate the majority of our Township Committee voted to do a TNR pilot in Maplewood because it opened St. Hubert's doors to us. Take advantage of it!

dquadrel said:
What a shame! I found a kitten who had maggots. Dr Stack treated her, and she was fine

Im sure they just didn't want to deal with the kitties. Small kitties can survive maggots. I should of reach out sooner

HarleyQuinn said:

dquadrel said:
What a shame! I found a kitten who had maggots. Dr Stack treated her, and she was fine

Im sure theyjust didn't want to deal with the kitties. Small kitties can survive maggots. I should of reach out sooner

"Didn't want to" vs. "Can't" = major difference. I think you're making an assumption that shelter workers use any old excuse to put down animals.

spontaneous said:
Believe me, shelter workers at high kill shelter don't come to work in the morning hoping to kill as many animals as possible. Rather they come in knowing they have no empty cages left and their hearts drop when they then see the ACO trucks show up with whatever strays they have picked up that day, knowing full well that no vacancies and new arrivals means that difficult and painful choices have to be made.

From reading this thread the kittens were alone for at least one night, as it seems they were first found on the 22nd and were then taken to AHS on the 23rd. We don't know how long they were there before the OP saw them. Their condition was likely poor, especially considering that their eyes weren't even open yet. Add to that the overnight (at least) with no milk and exposure to the elements. Then add to that the maggots. It is sad, but saving those kittens wasn't a guarantee.

Finding young kittens like that in a parking lot with no momma around feels like someone dumped them. Kittens that small aren't highly mobile yet, and no momma cat would put her kittens in the middle of a lot, she would have hidden them somewhere. Were she hit by a car and hadn't returned week old kittens wouldn't have traveled that far. Irresponsible owners who don't get their pets spayed and neutered then dumping the resulting kittens and puppies in parking lots, parks, or even dumpsters, happens way too often.

I'm with you ... BUT, according to AHS they were not put down for poor conditions. It was simply because they were "covered with maggots". End of story. When you google, it is treatable. all 3 kitties and not one could of been safe ?? I'm not buying it.

spontaneous said:
From reading this thread the kittens were alone for at least one night, as it seems they were first found on the 22nd and were then taken to AHS on the 23rd. We don't know how long they were there before the OP saw them. Their condition was likely poor, especially considering that their eyes weren't even open yet. Add to that the overnight (at least) with no milk and exposure to the elements. Then add to that the maggots. It is sad, but saving those kittens wasn't a guarantee.
Finding young kittens like that in a parking lot with no momma around feels like someone dumped them. Kittens that small aren't highly mobile yet, and no momma cat would put her kittens in the middle of a lot, she would have hidden them somewhere. Were she hit by a car and hadn't returned week old kittens wouldn't have traveled that far. Irresponsible owners who don't get their pets spayed and neutered then dumping the resulting kittens and puppies in parking lots, parks, or even dumpsters, happens way too often.

@mjh - I'm not blaming the staff for the record. I am sure they don't want to put every animals to sleep.

All I am saying is that who ever took the decision to end the life of these kitties, simply didn't want to take the time to threat them. Or at least try. Those kitties were only there for what 1 or 2 days ?? and BANG all 3 were put down to sleep In less than 72 hours. Not good

You are smart not to buy it, HarleyQuinn. I know too many people who share similar experiences about animals that were never given a chance at AHS.

HarleyQuinn said:
@mjh - I'm not blaming the staff for the record. I am sure they don't want to put every animals to sleep.
All I am saying is that who ever took the decision to end the life of these kitties, simply didn't want to take the time to threat them. Or at least try. Those kitties were only there for what 1 or 2 days ?? and BANG all 3 were put down to sleep In less than 72 hours. Not good

One or two days with no food or water if they weren't being nursed, so they were already dehydrated and malnurished. One or two days with no protection from the cold, especially at night when it has been super chilly. Maggots feed on dead and dying tissue, so there was most probably a sever health problem that lead to the infestation.