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.

Kittens who aren’t in immediate danger may be safer where they are, at least for a short time. Many shelters simply don’t have space, staff, or foster homes to safely care for them — and euthanasia is sometimes the heartbreaking result when animals are brought in who didn’t actually need to be removed from their environment. So how do you know what to do?

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.