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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

When temperatures soar, outdoor animals suffer quietly — often with no escape from the relentless heat. Whether it's community cats living in feral colonies or wildlife trying to survive in your backyard, summer heatwaves can be deadly without a little help from compassionate humans. Here’s how you can be their lifeline during extreme heat.

Spaying and neutering are some of the most important — and most misunderstood — procedures in animal rescue. If you're a new adopter or foster parent, it's completely normal to feel nervous about putting a kitten or cat through surgery.

Whether you're a busy student, a full-time worker, or someone unsure about a long-term commitment, short-term fostering can still be life-saving.

Opening your home to foster kittens is one of the most impactful, life-saving things you can do — but like anything new, it comes with a learning curve. Whether you're bottle-feeding newborns or socializing shy weaned kittens, it’s normal to feel a little overwhelmed at first.

The first 24 hours are all about creating a gentle, positive transition for your new little friend. Kittens are resilient, but a new environment can be overwhelming — so your role is to provide calm, comfort, and space to adjust. Here’s what to expect, what to do, and how to set your kitten up for success from day one.

One of the most common myths about fostering is that it’s only possible if you’re home all day. But the truth is, you can absolutely foster kittens while working full-time.

When new kittens enter a shelter environment, it is crucial to conduct comprehensive nose-to-tail examinations to ensure their well-being...

To keep your new pet safe and prevent any accidents, here are some simple steps to kitten-proof your home before adopting a kitten.

Bringing a newly adopted kitten home to join your resident cat can be exciting, but introducing two feline companions requires careful...

Fading Kitten Syndrome is a term used to describe a set of symptoms that can affect newborn kittens. It is a serious condition that can lead