Saving a neonatal kitten is one of the most rewarding things you can do. It’s also one of the hardest. And for many shelters across the country, it’s simply something they cannot do alone.

Bringing a new pet into your home is exciting — whether it’s a kitten joining your senior cat, a playful puppy meeting your resident cat, or two adult cats learning to share space for the first time. But with all that excitement comes one big, common mistake that can derail the whole process: Introducing pets too quickly.

Newborn kittens enter the world with almost no defenses of their own. For their first few weeks, they rely on antibodies passed from their mother’s milk to help protect them from disease. But once they’re weaned — or if they’re orphaned from birth — that natural protection fades quickly, leaving them vulnerable to viruses that can spread fast and turn deadly in a matter of days.

Every Hour Counts for a Kitten in Need When people think about fostering, they often imagine months of care, sleepless nights, and a long-term commitment. But what if we told you that you can save a life in just one weekend? At Esther Neonatal Kitten Alliance, we see it happen all the time. A volunteer opens their home for a few short days, giving a fragile kitten the warmth, food, and care they need to stabilize — and that brief act of kindness changes everything. Why Weeke

A kitten’s age determines everything about the care they need: what they can eat, whether or not they need help staying warm, how often they should be fed, and even whether they need to be with a foster, at a shelter, or with their mom.

About once a month on a Friday, something incredible happens at Esther Neonatal Kitten Alliance. People give $5. It doesn’t sound like much, right? Five dollars — less than a fancy coffee or takeout snack. But when dozens (or hundreds!) of people come together to give that same small amount, something magical happens: tiny, fragile kittens get a real chance to live. We call it The $5 Friday Effect.

Letting go is one of the hardest parts of fostering — and one of the most beautiful. Because when a kitten you’ve raised goes to a loving forever home, it means you’ve done your job perfectly.

If you work or volunteer in animal rescue, you’ve probably heard the terms compassion fatigue and burnout. They’re often used interchangeably — but they’re not quite the same thing.

When you walk into a room full of kittens, it’s easy to fall in love with just one tiny face. But if you’ve ever wondered whether to bring home one kitten or two, here’s the truth: in most cases, two kittens are better than one — for them and for you.

Studies and shelter experience consistently show that kittens adopted in pairs adjust more easily, are less destructive, and often have fewer long-term behavior issues. Two really is the magic number!

From setting up their space to building trust and teaching routines, here’s what you can look forward to (and prepare for!) during your kitten’s first days at home.

Temperature isn’t just a number—it’s the single most important indicator of whether a kitten’s body is functioning normally or slipping into crisis. Understanding why warmth matters, how to check for hypothermia, and what to do if you find a cold kitten can make the difference between life and death.

Shy or timid kittens often need a little extra time, patience, and encouragement to feel safe in their new environment. While it can be tempting to rush the process, building a timid kitten’s confidence is best done slowly and thoughtfully.

Food is a natural motivator for kittens. Just like people, they build positive associations with experiences that involve something tasty. By pairing your presence with a delicious treat, you start teaching a timid kitten that humans equal good things. Over time, those positive associations can override fear and build lasting trust.

Bringing home a kitten is one of life’s purest joys — those tiny paws, bright eyes, and endless purrs can melt even the busiest heart....

Shelters across the country are overwhelmed, especially during “kitten season” (spring through fall), when the number of homeless kittens skyrockets. Many facilities simply don’t have the resources or staff to care for every kitten who needs help. If the shelter can’t help, what can you do? Don’t panic. There are options — and what you do next could make all the difference for those kittens.

This quick, 60-second assessment can tell you whether the kitten is safe to monitor, needs to be rescued, or is in immediate danger.

Spaying a mother cat is one of the most impactful things you can do to prevent unwanted litters — but what happens when that mom is still nursing her kittens? Let’s walk through the facts, dispel the myths, and share best practices to ensure mom and babies stay healthy and safe.

July 5th is one of the busiest days of the year for lost pets arriving at animal shelters —many of which are already overwhelmed with summer intakes. For panicked families searching for their beloved furry friends, one tiny tool can make all the difference: a microchip.

Here’s how to write an adoption bio that helps cautious kittens find the patient, loving homes they deserve.