Our Mission
Connecting kittens to brighter futures...
Kitten Railroad is dedicated to ensuring every vulnerable kitten has a safe place to land- whether through our direct care or by connecting them with the resources, fosters, and support they need to survive and thrive. We specialize in rescuing neonatal, special needs, and
at-risk kittens while building a network of fosters, rescuers, and advocates working together to give every kitten a chance.
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The Journey to Kitten Railroad
After more than a decade in kitten rescue, one thing has become incredibly clear to me: no one can save kittens alone. Every spring, countless people find orphaned kittens and desperately want to help, but too often they don’t know where to turn. Experienced fosters, veterinarians, rescue organizations, and volunteers all exist, yet they’re rarely connected in a way that helps kittens quickly reach the care they need. I began dreaming of a better network—a “Kitten Railroad”—where every vulnerable kitten could be connected to the right person at the right time.
That dream became even more meaningful because of a tiny kitten named Rose (pictured above).
At the beginning of kitten season 2025, I was already caring for four fragile foster kittens while working nearly full-time at a veterinary hospital. I simply couldn’t take on another bottle baby. Then one day, a couple came into the clinic with two newborn kittens. They had been caring for them alongside another couple from their neighborhood. It was incredibly moving seeing four people come together to save two tiny lives. The kittens appeared stable, so we made plans for me to bring them some supplies the next day.
Unfortunately, one of the kittens started to crash. The couple rushed them to me, despite all stabilizing measures, her sister Daisy passed away in my hands. I turned to Rose and could tell she wasn’t far from crashing too. I spent the weekend tube feeding her, giving fluids, and fighting to stabilize her, knowing I couldn’t continue caring for another newborn once I returned to work.
By Monday, Rose was improving but still needed experienced neonatal care. Her finders and I searched for someone who could help, only to learn how difficult it was to find a foster with the skills she needed. Thankfully, through a friend, I was connected with Mary—an experienced neonatal foster who welcomed Rose into her home that very evening. I drove away from her home overwhelmed with gratitude. Not only did Rose survive and thrive; she connected two rescuers who have continued working together ever since.
Rose’s story reminds me why Kitten Railroad exists. It takes a village to save kittens, and no kitten’s future should depend on luck or simply knowing the right person. My hope is to help build a stronger network where rescuers, fosters, veterinarians, and communities work together—so every vulnerable kitten has a safe place to land.
Meet The Founder
On July 12, 2012, my life changed.
My family and I had just moved across the country. After six days of driving, we finally arrived
at our new home. My parents were ready to relax for the evening, but my first question was,
“Is the cat rescue still open?!”
I had been waiting to visit this rescue for what felt like an eternity to my 13-year-old self.
When we finally made it there, I took one look into the kitten room and instantly knew I had
found my best friend. Bean was just a tiny puff of sweetness and spice back then. Weighing
only one pound, she was too small to be spayed and adopted. I returned to the rescue every
day, from open to close, just to be with her and to volunteer.
That rescue became my second home. I learned how important it was to monitor a kitten’s weight, how to give medications, and how to socialize frightened kittens. Most of all, I discovered that I loved this work more than anything.
After seven years of volunteering and fostering kittens, I decided to move to Los Angeles to continue learning and gain more experience. I worked in a kitten nursery caring for 50–100 kittens at a time, worked at a high-volume, low-cost spay and neuter clinic serving community cats, and independently rescued, fostered, and adopted out more than 30 kittens.
After a few years in Los Angeles, I returned to San Luis Obispo County with an even deeper understanding of neonatal kitten care, rescue medicine, and community cat programs. I continued rescuing kittens with the help of local organizations while beginning a career in veterinary medicine to further develop my medical knowledge and skills.
Through every chapter of my life, Bean was by my side. She comforted me through every difficult day, helped mend my heart every time it broke, and somehow always knew how to make me laugh. After nearly 14 beautiful years together, I had to say goodbye to my sweet girl. My heart broke in a way I had never experienced before, and for the first time, she wasn’t there to help put the pieces back together.
After Bean passed away, I found myself at a crossroads. I had been considering stepping back from rescue already. I had devoted so much of my life to it, but I couldn’t see a path that would ever allow sustainability. Years of difficult experiences had left me discouraged, and I was emotionally exhausted. Knowing Bean was in her golden years, I had planned to spend as much time with her as possible that summer.
Instead, I lost her in January.
The grief was overwhelming. Eventually, though, I realized I needed somewhere to put all of that love. I kept coming back to rescue and asking myself what I wanted it to look like if I could build something from the ground up.
After several months without Bean—and without foster kittens—I realized something.
Life is made up of small moments and the things that bring each of us joy. For me, nothing in the world compares to nurturing a neonatal kitten. Bottle-feeding kittens still feels exactly the way it did the very first time I held a tiny neonate in my hands: like a little bit of magic.
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Colton Tiedeman
In that moment, I made a promise to myself—and to Bean—to dedicate the rest of my life to making the world a safer place for kittens just like her.