SPCA New Zealand

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Animal Advocacy

Position Statements

Found Kittens

SPCA advocates that healthy, pre-weaned stray kittens should be kept with their mother, provided they are in a safe location and not at risk to welfare harms.

Kittens under the age of eight weeks need intense support with eating, grooming, toileting, and socialising. The kittens’ mother is best suited to provide for these needs. When people intervene with the intention of helping kittens whom they find without their mother, they may not realise that the mother cat is off finding food and will return. Separating young kittens from their mother poses challenges for humans, as these kittens will require skilled, round-the-clock care.

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