Found Kittens
Found kittens? In most cases, the best thing to do is wait for mom to come back. She's likely nearby looking for food, and she offers the best chance of survival for kittens. If you're unsure whether intervention is needed, follow these guidelines.
If the kittens look healthy and relatively clean, leave them be! Wait 8 hours to see if mom returns.
If mom returns:
- Provide support from a distance! You can offer food/water for the mom as long as it’s left a distance away.
- Leave the kittens with mom until they are roughly 8 weeks old, then contact your local shelter for support.
If mom does not return:
- Remove the kittens.
- You can foster them yourself! Resources for kitten care can be found here.
- As a last resort, contact your local shelter.
If the kittens are dirty, wet, skinny or sickly, or are in a dangerous area (for example, near the road), remove the kittens from the area. From there, please contact your local shelter for guidance on next steps.
| City | Agency/Shelter Name | Phone Number |
| Alameda | Alameda County Animal Services | (510) 337-8565 |
| Antioch | Antioch Animal Services | (925) 779-6989 |
| Berkeley | Berkeley Animal Care Services | (510) 981-6600 |
| Castro Valley | Alameda County Animal Services | (510) 337-8565 |
| Cities within Contra Costa County, except Antioch | Contra Costa County Animal Services | (925) 608-8400 |
| Hayward | Hayward Animal Services | (510) 293-7200 |
| Livermore | Livermore Police Department/East Bay SPCA | (925) 371-4987 |
| Oakland | Oakland Animal Services | (510) 535-5602 |
| San Leandro | San Leandro Police Department/East Bay SPCA | (510) 577-2740 |
Other Ways to Help Kittens
Fostering kittens is a critical way to provide them with the care and socialization they need before they’re old enough to be adopted (around 8 weeks).
To help stabilize the community cat population, East Bay SPCA offers TNR services for San Leandro and Livermore residents. Trapping feral cats and getting them spayed/neutered is the best way to keep them healthy and prevent reproduction.
When you make a gift to East Bay SPCA, you are supporting our efforts to care for the most vulnerable animals in our community.