Cape Coral prepares for kitten season with specialized neonatal kits

CAPE CORAL, Fla. (WINK)—The Cape Coral Animal Shelter received a grant from the Orphan Kitten Club to help care for neonatal kittens, just in time for kitten season.

The funding will support the shelter's neonatal kitten program by equipping foster caregivers with supplies and specialized tools needed to care for kittens from birth to eight weeks old.

The grant included a financial contribution of $1,105 and neonatal kits.

Each neonatal kitten kit is assembled to give foster caregivers everything they need to raise bottle-fed kittens successfully.

Kits include:

• nursing bottles
• Miracle Nipples for safe feeding
• a digital pet scale to monitor daily weight gain
• a microwaveable heating disc to maintain proper body temperature
• a digital thermometer
• petroleum jelly
• a flea comb
• disposable gloves 
• a blender bottle for formula preparation

Neonatal kittens require bottle feeding every two to three hours, careful temperature regulation and close medical monitoring.

In 2025, Cape Coral Animal Shelter cared for 250 kittens under eight weeks old, achieving a 96% live release rate for this highly vulnerable group. The shelter's foster network includes more than 250 families.