Orphan Kitten Project
The Orphan Kitten Project at UC Davis (OKP) is an entirely veterinary student-run non-profit organization that has been rescuing kittens since 1988.
OKP’s mission is to give orphaned and abandoned neonatal kittens a chance of a good quality of life while working with and teaching veterinary students and the community’s general public about kitten care. On intake, kittens receive a complete physical exam from trained veterinary student coordinators. The kittens are placed with fosters within the public and veterinary community who charitably volunteer their time to bottle-raise them in their own homes.
OKP pairs each foster with a veterinary student coordinator to monitor the kittens, provide preventative care, and answer any questions or concerns that arise pertaining to the kittens’ health and welfare. Before the kittens are adopted, they are weaned, dewormed, vaccinated, FeLV tested, spayed/neutered, microchipped, and treated for any medical conditions. OKP also takes on other cases such as pregnant cats, orthopedic injuries (partnered with the Fracture Program), eye and skin issues, and other medical cases. The proximity to the UC Davis veterinary hospital allows OKP to take on medical cases of which shelters may not have the resources to accomplish. Once the kittens are ready, they are placed with individual adopters who have personally met with the fosters/coordinator in order to give the kittens the best chance at their forever home.