“Kitnapping” is when kittens are eliminated from their moms, likewise referred to as “queens,” prematurely. It’s typically done by well-meaning human beings to re-home them. However, this can show to be harmful to the infants’ health.
“When we get kittens in that have been ‘kitnapped,’ it’s hard because we’re not their mom. And their mom is really the one that provides the most and best care,” Humane Society of Central Oregon Animal Programs Manager Wendy Arnold said. “We try our best but it really does effect their health and everything for their future.”
Once kitnapped, the kitten’s diet plan is most likely to alter, perhaps causing gastrointestinal concerns that can spiral into dehydration and poor nutrition, making it more difficult to endure.
“We try our best with things and supplements, but we’re not always able to do what a mom could do for them,” Arnold said.
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Arnold says it’s normally best to leave litters of kittens alone.
“Queens will go off to forage for food during the day, things like that. So, a lot of times when you find kittens, they may be well taken care of by their queen. You may have interrupted them or scared them away, but typically they will return,” Arnold said.
The shelter says 75% of kitnapped kittens it takes in would have likely been great if they we left alone.
There are exceptions, depending upon the animal’s scenario. If the kittens look unclean, underweight, in distress, or in medical crisis, it is possible they genuinely require human intervention.
Arnold says the shelter is constantly searching for brand-new foster houses for bottle-feeding kittens. They have a volunteer application on their website you can complete and they do provide trainings.
The kittens require to be fed every 2 hours.
