‘Looking for mom’: Kittens abandoned in cardboard box at B.C. animal shelter

Leo was one of the kittens abandoned. (Courtesy of BC SPCA Victoria)Leo was one of the kittens abandoned. (Courtesy of BC SPCA Victoria)
Comfort is another kitten abandoned at the front door of the animal centre. (Courtesy of BC SPCA Victoria)Comfort is another kitten abandoned at the front door of the animal centre. (Courtesy of BC SPCA Victoria)
Five kittens were abandoned at the front door of BC SPCA Victoria animal centre (Courtesy of BC SPCA Victoria)Five kittens were abandoned at the front door of BC SPCA Victoria animal centre (Courtesy of BC SPCA Victoria)

Five four-week-old kittens with nothing to keep them warm were left in a cardboard box at the front door of the BC SPCA’s Victoria animal centre.

Luckily, the bundles of joy were found by one of the staff just moments after they were abandoned based on security camera footage. However, the person who abandoned the kittens and their vehicle were out of frame.

“The staff member could hear mewing and opened the box to see five beautiful kittens,” said Emma Hamill, manager of the BC SPCA’s Victoria animal centre in a statement. “Two orange tabbies, a flame point, a calico, and a black and white runt. Thankfully, they were all healthy but too young to be away from their mom.”

The kittens were syringe-fed kitten milk replacement every four hours. Fortunately, they had begun to eat wet food on their own, so the weening process could begin.

“The kittens continue to need syringe feeding until they are about eight weeks old when they can eat all they need on their own,” added Hamill.

The Victoria animal centre manager mentioned that the kittens were very interested in people from the minute they were brought out of the box, climbing all over the staff and snuggling up for attention.

“Sadly, they were looking for mom mewing the whole day while we waited to get them into a foster home,” said Hamill.

Currently, the kittens are being housed in BC SPCA foster homes until they’re ready to be adopted.

“Being separated from mom so early, they are still getting the hang of litter box training and other things their mom would have taught them,” said Hamill. “We have been getting updates from the fosters, and apparently the calico we named Comfort has a lot of personality. She likes to boss her siblings around and doesn’t hesitate to vocalize her needs.”

Hamill added that Stuart Little, the flame point, has a sweet personality, and Bobbin, the runt of the litter, is slowly catching up to her siblings and will also be a beautiful and sweet cat.

The kittens will be available for adoption in two weeks. BC SPCA asks if anyone can help these kittens and others in need at the animal centre this holiday season, to donate on spca.bc.ca.

READ MORE: BC SPCA food banks dole out 20% more meals for pets in 2023

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