The best things in life are rescued!
Kitten Season....Is there really such a thing?
Is there really such a thing as kitten season?
Absolutely! Kitten season is the time of year when cats give birth inundating shelters and rescue groups with homeless litters. Kitten season is really three seasons in one, starting in spring, peaking in late spring or early summer, and ending in fall.
Why a kitten season?
The weather warms up and cats hormones warm up as well! Did you know that a cat can become pregnant at 5 months? Too many kittens are born because cats are not spayed and neutered. The easiest way to help reduce the overwhelming numbers of unwanted cats and kittens is to spay and neuter your own cat and encourage others to do the same.
Why kitten season is bad for cats and kittens
Unwanted cats and kittens, when left on the street to fend for themselves, often turn up in large numbers at the local animal shelter. Kittens typically do not do well in shelters. During kitten season shelter staff are overwhelmed by the number of kittens that show up at their doors. That is why rescue groups are so important. Rescue groups pull kittens from shelters and put them in foster homes until they are old enough to go to their forever home. The easiest way to make sure there are no kittens without homes is to spay or neuter your cats.
What should you do if you find abandoned kittens?
Wait and watch:
You might have come across the kittens while their mother is off searching for food, or is in the process of moving them to a different location. Try to determine if the mother is coming back for them, or if they are truly orphaned. If the kittens are not in immediate danger from weather or wildlife leave them until mama comes back, which could be several hours.
If the mother cat returns:
If mom returns and the area is relatively safe, leave the kittens alone with mom until they are weaned. You can offer a shelter and regular food to mom, but keep the food and shelter at a distance from each other. Mom will find the food but will not accept your shelter if the food is nearby because she will not want to attract other cats to food located near her babies.
Six weeks is the optimal age to take the kittens from the mother for socialization and adoption, and any time after eight weeks for Trap-Neuter-Return (spay/neuter, vaccination, eartip, and return to their colony). Female cats can become pregnant with a new litter even while they are still nursing, so don’t forget to get the mother cat spayed or you will have more kittens in no time!
If the mother cat does not return: If it appears that mama is not coming back, then you should remove the kittens, but please be absolutely sure that mama is not coming back. Young kittens have a better chance of survival if they are with their mama until they are weaned. However, if it is clear she is not coming back then please remove the kittens. This is crucial to the kittens’ survival. You can take the kittens to a local shelter or contact a local rescue like Casper's Legacy!
Other ways to help?
We will never be able to reduce the number of cats and kittens in shelters without your help. Here is how you can help:
1. Spay or neuter your cats and encourage everyone you know to do the same
2. Support local rescue groups like ours (during kitten season and all year)
4. Become a foster
5. Adopt a cat or kitten
