Springtime means it is “kitten season” - the beginning of a months-long influx of kittens with no place to go. Kittens born outside to intact community cats typically end up in shelters or rescues where they will be available for adoption once they are over 2 months and 2 lbs. If you are interested in helping out this kitten season, there are plenty of ways to do so. The kittens and their advocates would love to have your support.
VOLUNTEER
Volunteers are always needed, especially during kitten season when time is of the essence.
- Transporters are often needed to pick up kittens from the shelter, deliver them to fosters, or to chauffeur them to and from the vet.
- Sign up to do TNR and help trap, transport, or release community cats. This will help prevent more kittens from being born on the street and help the adults stay healthy.
- Spend time at a shelter or rescue and help feed, clean, and socialize kittens. Some rescues even have nurseries where you can help care for neonatal kittens, bottle feeding, cleaning or weighing them.
- If you are skilled with a camera, offer your talents by photographing or videoing kittens for rescues or shelters. This will help the kittens get adopted and help the organization get donations so they can save more kittens in need.
FOSTER
If you’ve ever considered fostering kittens, now would be a great time to start! Growing kittens benefit mentally, physically, and emotionally from being raised in loving homes with kind humans and other kitten friends. If you have the time and space - and a lot of love to give - fostering kittens can be a very fun and fulfilling experience!
Here are some benefits of fostering kittens:
- Fostering saves lives. During kitten season, animal shelters are over capacity and often lack the resources to provide care for every animal, especially neonatal kittens. By caring for kittens in your home, you ensure their safety AND free up a cage for another homeless animal.
- Fostering kittens is very rewarding. Taking care of kittens and watching them learn and grow is a wonderful experience that often improves your own well-being.
- Fostering kittens is a temporary commitment. Kittens are adopted when they’re as young as eight weeks old so fostering is a great option for people who have limited time.
- You can learn new and important skills, such as bottle feeding or tube feeding neonates, administering medicines, or socializing hissy kittens.
ADOPT
If you’ve been thinking about adopting a kitten or two, during the spring and summer months, there will be thousands of kittens looking for homes. You will definitely be able to find your new soul mate(s).
DONATE
Shelters and rescues are always in need of donations, monetary and otherwise.
- If you have extra towels, pillow cases, or small blankets, most organizations will gladly take them off your hands to use to line cages or carriers and keep kittens warm and cozy.
- Most organizations have online wishlists with the supplies they need the most, but, generally, kitten food, bowls, small litter boxes, litter, toys, hard carriers, pee pads, playpens, bottles, and heating pads would be very appreciated.
- Caring for kittens is expensive and there are always medical issues and emergencies to consider so financial contributions of any size are extremely helpful for shelters and rescues. Enrolling as a monthly donor is a great way to help out long-term.
Hopefully, these ideas inspire you to help kittens however you can. Solving the cat overpopulation crisis and easing the strain of kitten season is going to take a lot of time, hard work, and dedication. The more helpers we have, the more lives we can save together.
Love, Nala
