You're reading this because something happened today that you weren't expecting.

Maybe you found a tiny kitten alone in your yard. Maybe someone spotted one under a car in a parking lot and you're the person they called. Maybe you've been watching a nest of kittens for a few hours and the mother hasn't come back and you're starting to worry.

Here's what you need to know, and you need to know it fast because some of these decisions are time-sensitive.

The first and most important thing

Before you do anything, stop and wait.

The instinct to scoop up a kitten and bring it inside is a completely natural one. But it's almost always the wrong move, at least at first. Here's why. A mother cat doesn't stay with her kittens every moment of the day. She leaves to hunt, to eat, to drink. She may be in the process of moving her litter from one location to another, which means she can only carry one kitten at a time and the others are left alone temporarily. She may be hiding from you specifically, watching from a distance, waiting for you to leave so she can get back to her babies.

If you remove those kittens before confirming the mother isn't coming back, you've just separated a litter from the best possible caregiver they could have. No formula, no bottle, no human caregiver comes close to what a mother cat can provide for a newborn kitten. The survival rate for bottle-fed kittens is around 50%. With their mother it's significantly higher.

So. Step back. Watch from a distance, at least 35 feet. Give it a few hours. Observe.

A good trick: place a thin ring of flour around the kittens before you leave. When you come back, check for paw prints. If the mother has returned, you'll see them.

When to step in immediately

There are situations where you don't wait. If the kittens are in immediate danger, in the middle of a road, exposed to extreme weather, showing obvious signs of injury or illness, get them somewhere safe first and sort out the rest later.

A kitten that is crying constantly, cold to the touch, covered in fleas, or clearly in distress needs help right now. A kitten that is quiet, warm, and sleeping is almost certainly fine and waiting for mom.

If the mother doesn't return after several hours, or if you know for certain the mother is gone, you witnessed her death, or she's been missing for more than 24 hours, then it's time to step in.

What to do once you've decided to help

The first priority is warmth. A kitten that can't regulate its own body temperature will deteriorate fast. Wrap the kitten in a soft towel and keep it close to your body. If you have a heating pad, set it to low and place it under half the bedding so the kitten can move away from the heat if it gets too warm. Never put a kitten directly on a heating pad.

Don't offer food or formula until the kitten is warm and alert. A cold kitten can't digest properly and feeding it before it's warmed up can cause more harm than good.

Then find your nearest rescue organization. Go to thesecondpaw.org, type in your ZIP code, and pull up the list of rescue organizations near you. Call them. Most rescues have experience with neonatal kittens and can either take the kitten in, connect you with a foster who specializes in bottle babies, or walk you through what to do next. This is not a situation to navigate alone if you don't have experience with it.

If the kittens are older, eyes open, walking around, eating on their own, they're probably at least four to six weeks old and in much better shape. They still need help finding a rescue or a foster home, but the urgency is lower.

How to figure out how old they are

Age matters because it tells you how much care they need and how much time you have.

Eyes and ears closed means they're under two weeks old. These are neonatal kittens and they need round-the-clock feeding, warmth, and stimulation to go to the bathroom. They need experienced help immediately.

Eyes open but wobbly means they're probably two to four weeks old. Still need bottle feeding but becoming more aware of the world.

Running around and curious means they're likely four to six weeks old. Still need formula but getting close to weaning age.

Eating solid food and fully coordinated means they're probably six to eight weeks or older. Much more independent and ready to begin the socialization process.

One last thing

You stopped. You noticed. You're reading this and trying to do the right thing.

That matters. Most kittens that end up in good situations get there because one person paid attention at the right moment. That person is you today.

Go to thesecondpaw.org and find a rescue organization near you. They will help you figure out exactly what to do next, and they will be glad you called.

Second chances start here.