What Is Kitten Season? How to Help Your Local Shelters During This Busy Time

Have you ever heard of kitten season? Kitten season is when animal shelters experience a surge in kittens caused by increased cat births. While it sounds like a simple season, it can overwhelm shelters, strain resources, and lead to overcrowding.

advertisement

What Is Kitten Season?

Kitten season is when outdoor cats mate and give birth, typically starting in early spring and continuing through late fall. While cats can give birth at any time of the year, warmer weather encourages more mating and births. This leads to a significant increase in kittens born, especially those found outside. As a result, shelters see more strays and abandoned kittens, placing a heavy burden on their resources and available space.

When Do Cats Have Kittens?

Female cats can become pregnant as early as four months of age and remain fertile for most of their lives, typically between 7 and 8 years. Cats enter heat cycles every 2-3 weeks to produce multiple litters from multiple mates yearly without spaying. The gestation period for a cat is typically 63-65 days or around two months. So, while the peak of kitten season occurs in the warmer months, cats can have kittens at any time if not spayed.

advertisement

How You Can Help During Kitten Season

There are several ways you can help alleviate the strain on shelters during kitten season and reduce the number of homeless kittens:

1. Spay or Neuter Your Cats

One of the most effective ways to help control the population of stray cats is by ensuring that your cats are spayed or neutered. If you’ve recently adopted a kitten or cat, schedule a spay or neuter appointment with a vet. Additionally, a veterinarian can provide vaccines and checkups to ensure your kitten’s health.

2. Helping Stray Kittens

If you find kittens outside during kitten season, assess their condition. If the kittens are healthy, friendly, and over two months old, consider helping care for them until they are ready for adoption. In the meantime, contact local shelters to see if they offer trap, neuter, and return (TNR) programs. These programs help control the stray cat population by spaying and neutering feral cats before they are returned to their outdoor homes.

3. Foster Kittens

Shelters often need foster families to care for kittens during kitten season. Fostering is a great way to support your local shelter without making a long-term commitment. Most shelters provide all the necessary supplies, including food, bedding, and toys. By fostering, you can offer a safe and comfortable environment for kittens to grow before they are ready for adoption.

4. Adopt a Kitten

Adopting a kitten can help ease the burden on shelters if you’re ready for a new feline friend. Consider adopting one or two kittens from your local shelter. This gives a loving home to a kitten and opens up space for other cats in need.

5. Volunteer

Shelters often experience a greater need for volunteers during kitten season. Volunteering can involve helping with cleaning, socializing kittens, or assisting in other shelter activities. Contact your local shelter to see how you can lend a helping hand.

6. Donate

Donating supplies can also make a big difference if you cannot volunteer your time. Shelters may need items like kitten food, bedding, toys, and litter boxes. Before purchasing anything, contact your local shelter to inquire about the most needed items or brands.

advertisement

Kitten season may bring an influx of adorable little faces, but it also comes with shelter challenges. Even simple actions can help make kitten season more manageable for shelters and provide better care for needy kittens. Together, we can help ensure that more kittens find loving homes while reducing the number of homeless cats.