I found kittens in the Algarve — what should I do?

Finding kittens can be worrying, and it is natural to want to pick them up straight away. In many cases, though, the mother cat is nearby and simply away finding food.

Before you move them

• Where it is safe to do so, watch quietly from a distance — ideally for a few hours.
• A mother cat may stay away while people are close by, so keep children and dogs well back.
• Healthy, warm, clean and settled kittens with a mother returning to them are usually best left together.
• Try not to separate very young kittens from their mother unless there is a clear welfare reason.

Signs kittens may need help

• Cold to the touch, limp or very weak.
• Visibly injured, wounded or covered in flies or fly eggs.
• Crying continuously for hours with no mother appearing.
• Obviously ill — discharge from eyes or nose, or unable to move normally.
• In immediate danger from traffic, machinery, heat or water.

If the mother does not return

Consider contacting a local veterinary practice or a rescue organisation before moving the kittens. Very young kittens need warmth and frequent feeding, and a vet or experienced fosterer can advise on what is appropriate.

Is there already someone caring for them?

Ask nearby residents, shops or cafés whether anyone feeds cats there. Many Algarve colonies have a regular caregiver who will know the cats. Bear in mind that feeding alone does not necessarily mean a colony is properly managed or that the cats have been sterilised.

If there are several adult cats living nearby, you may be looking at a cat colony.

---

I found an animal — see all situations · Lost & Found Pets & Animals in the Algarve

Information on this page is general guidance and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.