It’s that time of year again, kitten season. For the uninitiated, kitten season is that time of year, starting in spring when the kittens start showing up at shelters in carriers, in boxes, in cartons held together with bungee cords and (my favorite so far)- a covered litter box duct taped together with a children’s book blocking the “entrance” so the litter couldn’t escape.
Shelters (across the country) are quickly (some more quickly than others) filling up with kittens. Last summer, during one routine weekend day in the summer, there were 72 cat and kitten surrenders. There were 3 adoptions that day. It doesn’t take high level math skills to figure out that the intakes swamp the adoptions.
If you are looking for a cat, now is a great time to shop around, you can literally have “pick of the litter”, in fact you can pick the litter to have the pick of the litter from!
If you’re not in the market for a new companion right now, especially if the long term commitment of a cat/kitten adoption isn’t in your plans (cats can live in excess of 20 years if well cared for), why not consider fostering.
Worried about space? All it takes is a spare room, bathroom, closet, even a cattery cage will work!
Worried about time? Kittens are usually fostered until they are 2 months old and 2 pounds (that’s when they can be surgically altered and put up for adoption). Kittens and cats who are suffering from upper respiratory illness (URI) are treated with antibiotics typically for about 2 weeks. If you have a litter with a mom, she’ll do most of the work herself!
Worried about supplies? While food and supplies aren’t guaranteed, most of the donations of food and litter that are received at the Animal Rescue League are saved for the foster program. (Some of the donations are used to help needy families keep their pets.) If you are interested in donating supplies, things like bags or cans of cat/kitten food and kitty litter are always welcome! See the website wish list for more ideas!
Worried about falling in love? Oh, don’t worry, you most definitely will!
For more information about fostering, contact the Animal Rescue League’s foster coordinator, Cleda Klingensmith at (412) 661-6452 x 231
Chris Whyle at the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society (412) 321-4625 x 221
Judy Gerhard at Animal Friends (412) 847-7097.
