There is a lot of information out there in cyberspace about what to do if you find kittens, but I wanted to write this short piece to provide information specifically for folks living in Los Angeles.
I have been a cat volunteer at Los Angeles city shelters (first North Central and currently Chesterfield Square / South L.A.) for many years, and there seems to be a lot of confusion about this subject.
If you find kittens, the first thing to do is figure out if the mom is still in the picture.
You should NEVER take kittens (“kitnapping”) unless they are in imminent danger. You should first determine whether the mom is still taking care of them.
Moms often leave kittens to go get food. This is normal. Healthy kittens look plump and clean. In situations where the mom has disappeared (I don’t think that mama cats regularly abandon their kittens, but unfortunately, things sometimes happen), the kittens may be crying and look skinny and unkempt.
It is especially important not to take kittens that are still nursing because they are just like nursing human babies—they need to be fed every couple of hours. This is difficult, and it’s always best to let the mom do this job, so again, don’t take kittens away if the mom is around! You wouldn’t be helping at all.