Three newborn kittens, believed to be less than a day old, were discovered by a worker on Aug. 14 in separate spots at a Kelowna scrap yard. They were immediately rushed to an animal hospital for urgent care.
“We were contacted by the finder who was working at the yard and requested he take the kittens directly to the animal hospital,” said Shannon Paille, manager of the BC SPCA Kelowna.
“Barely a day old, one still had the placenta attached.”
The worker searched the area for the mother cat or any additional kittens but found none.
“It’s heartbreaking to imagine these tiny kittens alone, without their mother or even each other for warmth and protection,” Paille added.
Sadly, one of the kittens was in critical condition and had to be euthanized shortly after arriving at the hospital. A second kitten, despite being placed in an incubator and receiving fluids, also did not survive.
Only one kitten made it through the first night.
“We found an amazing foster for the surviving kitten who is bottle feeding him every two hours and weighing him daily to make sure he is gaining weight,” said Paille.
“They have an animal-safe heating pad for the little one to provide some comforting warmth so they can feel safe and secure. It is important for newborn kittens to be kept at a consistent temperature.”
The BC SPCA said it's cautiously optimistic about the kitten’s recovery.
“This kitten has a fighting spirit. The foster says he is eating well and is gaining weight,” Paille shared.
The BC SPCA is covering the costs of emergency medical care and is asking for public support.
To help this kitten and others in need, donations can be made on the BC SPCA's website.
