Kaya Miller, a second-year undergraduate at UC Davis, is currently fostering three 3-week-old kittens named Anna, Elsa, and Merida. She manages the care of these neonatal kittens with her roommate by taking shifts to feed and clean them every two hours. “It’s a lot of dedication; we have to wake up every two hours, but it’s so worth it,” Miller said.
Miller volunteers with the Orphan Kitten Project (OKP), a nonprofit club run by veterinary students that has been rescuing and rehabilitating neonatal kittens since 1988. Neonatal kittens under four weeks old need specialized care such as bottle feeding and medical treatment. Fosters like Miller help reduce pressure on animal shelters while providing necessary attention for the animals.
According to data from the UC Integrated Pest Management Program, feral and free-roaming cats make up between 18% and 49% of all cats in the United States. Warmer regions like California see especially high populations; Los Angeles County alone is estimated to have about half a million feral cats.
When neonatal kittens are found or brought into Yolo County shelters, OKP is contacted for assistance. “They’ll call us, and if we can take them, we will. Or we’ll help direct them to other resources,” said Hannah Rogers, a student at the UC Davis Veterinary School of Medicine and co-president of OKP.
The organization relies on an extensive volunteer network including surgery coordinators, adoption coordinators, and veterinary advisors from the William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at UC Davis. “It takes a village because we’re running an entire rescue,” Rogers said. “The whole thing is really everybody in the community.”
OKP does not have its own facility but instead depends on volunteer fosters—mainly undergraduates or local residents—to house kittens temporarily. Vet students pair fosters with kittens and provide supplies as well as guidance throughout the process. The club maintains about 20 to 30 active foster homes at any time.
Miller’s experience with fostering began when she cared for an injured cat during her childhood: “We would syringe feed him and it was a little stressful, but it was so good to just be there for him and get to raise him.” That cat was eventually adopted into another home.
She learned about OKP through friends before joining their email list for prospective fosters. After responding to an opportunity involving her current litter of kittens, she received support from a volunteer coordinator who provided essential supplies such as an incubator, litter box materials, formula, and more.
“The coordinator came over and showed me how to do everything. There are just really amazing people in the program,” Miller said.
Veterinary students also gain practical experience through their involvement with OKP. Charissa Tseng, first-year student at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and co-vice president of OKP, explained: “Even after we graduate and become veterinarians, we will see kittens in our line of work — they will pop up in the clinic, so it’s good to know how to deal with them.” Tseng joined OKP out of interest in kitten care: “I personally love cats and wanted to learn how to take care of very young kittens,” she said. “The best part is seeing the kittens go from fragile and sickly to strong and healthy.”
Tseng monitors foster families’ progress, administers vaccines, organizes adoptions schedules—and recently saw her first foster kitten adopted: “I recently had my first adoption, and it was so fulfilling to see the kitten find a loving home,” she said.
Adoption fees collected by OKP are used entirely for medical costs such as vaccines or neutering procedures rather than generating profit for the organization. “It really doesn’t produce any money. [The fees] just help us break even on vaccines and neutering,” Rogers noted. Donations from groups like Orphan Kitten Club or Sacramento Valley Veterinarian Associate Medical Association provide additional financial support.
Despite partnerships with veterinary hospitals that assist medically where possible, covering bills remains challenging: “We work hard to apply for grants and raise funds,” Tseng stated.
Demand increases during warmer months due to rising feral cat populations: “By high summer, we just run out of space,” Rogers said.”Our biggest limiting factor is money because we always have to keep a certain amount for medical emergencies.”
Looking ahead, OKP aims to expand efforts around trap-neuter-release (TNR) programs intended to control stray cat populations long-term.“Unless you can spay and neuter mom and dad,you’re always goingto have more homelesskittens getting hurtfrom living outside,”Rogers explained.“When you stopthat cycle,you won’t havemore kittenstaking their place.”
“If you have the timeand ability definitelyfoster.Every bit makesa difference forthese kittens,”Tseng added.
For now,Miller plans tocarea Anna Meridaand Elsa untiltheyareadopted.“The only reason why I wouldn’t adopt them is because I don’t have thesecurity.OtherwisethinkI’dhave10millioncats,”she joked.
