What is kitten season and why does it happen?
Kitten season is the time from late spring to early fall in which the rate of feral kittens being born spikes significantly. During winter, feral and stray cats are busy fending for themselves – trying to stay warm, sheltered and fed. But when the weather begins to warm up, our feline friends can relax a little and come out of hiding. If a female cat is not spayed, her hormones will begin to kick in and she will begin her first heat cycle for the year, which is regulated by the weather. She will then repeat that cycle until she becomes pregnant.
Why is kitten season a problem?
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| 10 week old kitten |
Kittens are born after 9 weeks of gestation and are ready to be taken from their mothers and placed for adoption when they are 8 weeks old. A female cat that is 5 months or older and not spayed is able to get pregnant. Since heat cycles are regulated by the weather, that means that any and every cat who is 5 months or older and is not spayed will most likely be delivering a litter of kittens in early spring. These kittens are then brought in to shelters by the dozen, and resources – money, food, beds, space, people – are spread extremely thin. It puts an extreme amount of stress on no-kill shelters and rescues.
What should I do if I find a litter of kittens?
Observe first, and then act. If you find a litter of kittens without its mother, there could be an explanation for it. The mother could be out searching for food – lactating mothers need 2 to 4 times as many nutrients in their diet as a cat that is not lactating. Her milk is the very best source of food for kittens and they typically need to be fed every few hours. That’s a lot of pressure to put on mother’s body. She may also be moving the kittens to a new location, which involves carrying each kitten in her mouth by the scruff of their neck to the new spot. Should you try to approach the kittens right away, you may end up encountering a very angry and protective mom. The best solution is to watch the litter for a few hours and assess the situation. If you feel the need to act right away, put out some food and water for mom and a box and a blanket that the mother could use to shelter them. Getting mom to trust you is the first priority. For more information on what to do if you find stray or feral kittens, or their mother, the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon has an excellent guide to dealing with most situations.
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| Phantom, a momma who not only nursed her litter but also took in 3 other momma-less litters, too. |
- Volunteer to foster. Foster homes are the most important resource that any shelter can have, especially during kitten season. Fostering involves housing, feeding and generally taking care of kittens until they are about to be adopted and sent to their furever homes. Paws and Prayers will pay for all necessary medical care and will even supply the food, crate, toys, leash and anything else if necessary. If you’re even just a little curious about fostering an animal, please check out Paws and Prayers’ Foster Information Page.
- Volunteer to help. Unfortunately, there are always more needy animals than available volunteers. Even just a few hours a week is a huge help! Check out Paws and Prayers’ Volunteer Page for more information.
- Donate. While most shelters and rescues are desperate for donations in even the best of times, kitten season is an especially difficult time. Of course, the number one thing always needed is actual funds (for operating costs, food, medicine, veterinary procedures, etc.). However, almost anything having to do with pets is helpful – from wet or dry food to pet beds to new toys, every little bit helps. Many shelters also collect odd items on the side to turn in for cash refunds – for example, here at Paws and Prayers, we collect empty ink/toner cartridges and plastic grocery bags. For more information, check out Paws and Prayers’ Donation Page.
- Spread the word. Whether it’s simple word of mouth, a few posts on social media or an ad in your local paper, getting the word out about fostering/adopting is extremely necessary. Without the help of foster families, there would never be enough space to house all the kittens born during the season. It’s also very important to raise public awareness about how crucial it is to spay and neuter all pets.
- Spay or neuter an animal. The biggest reason for kitten season is that much of the general public is either unaware or misinformed about the effects of spaying and neutering. While it may seem cruel to put an animal through the surgery, it actually helps to save lives every time. The Humane Society has an excellent page addressing spaying and neutering facts and myths. Paws and Prayers has a list of links to low-cost, local clinics that will help spay or neuter a household pet or stray without costing an arm or a leg. The Humane Society also has created an amazingly comprehensive list of clinics in Ohio who participate in Trap-Neuter-Release programs which will spay or neuter truly feral cats and then release them back into the wild. These programs are essential in helping to cut down on the amount of unplanned pregnancies in the wild.
Content By: Chrissy Reese
Chrissy Reese is a Pittsburgh native who recently moved to Ohio with her long-time boyfriend and their rescued Tabby cat/fur baby Madeline. Her last several years were spent in Philadelphia, earning her Journalism degree from Temple University and writing and editing for Campus Philly and 2.1.5 Magazine. She also runs a blog called Literophilia where she occasionally writes about her obsession with books. When she’s not blogging or snuggling with kitties, you can find her doing makeup artistry, knitting or exploring the great outdoors.
Images provided by: Paws & Prayers
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