Kittens Have a Season?!

Believe it or not there is such a thing as “Kitten Season.” Cats are considered warm weather breeders and as a result, kittens are typically born in the spring and summer months. 

As a veteran animal foster parent and former employee of both the San Diego Humane Society and the Sacramento SPCA, I am no stranger to kitten season and all that comes with it. Kitten season often leaves the local shelters inundated with kittens, many of whom are too young to go up for adoption.  I’m sure you are all thinking that teeny tiny 5-week-old kittens would be easy to adopt out since they are so little and cute, and while this may be the case, there are several factors to consider. 

The first is that in the state of California, it is illegal to sell a dog under the age of 8 weeks (California Penal Code section 597z); most shelters extend this law to kittens as well.  Second, it has been scientifically proven that animals under the age of 8 weeks greatly benefit from the irreplaceable socialization skills they learn from their fellow litter-mates.  This includes bite inhibition, confidence building and the general rules of play, among other skills. Lastly, an animal under this age is very susceptible to illness, due to their weak immune systems.  For these reasons, when possible, shelters will send kittens under the age of 8 weeks to volunteer foster homes.  (For information about becoming a foster parent through the Sacramento SPCA click here.  For information about becoming a foster parent through the Sacramento County Animal Shelter click here). 

During this time, the kittens are given a chance to mature both physically and behaviorally.  Doing this in a home setting helps to prepare them for finding their forever home and more importantly, relieves the already crowded shelters that cannot afford to occupy much-needed kennel space for weeks on end.   For most shelters, particularly those in our area, animals will not be sent home with their new families until they are spayed or neutered.  It is common shelter practice to hold off on such procedures until an animal weighs at least two pounds.  Typically kittens hit two pounds right around the 8-9 week mark. At two pounds most foster parents return their kittens to the shelter to be fully processed for adoption, unless there are other medical issues that need to be tended to prior to adoption.  This may include some common illnesses found in young kittens such as, Upper Respiratory Infection (commonly known as URI), eye infections or Coccidia (a parasite of the intestinal tract).

A common misconception about shelters is that if you take an animal there, it will have a short time limit for adoption and if it is not adopted, then it will be euthanized.  While this may have been the case years ago, this is typically not the case anymore. More and more shelters nationwide (including the shelters in our area) are adopting policies which strive to reduce euthanasia as much as possible.  This includes keeping animals that are deemed adoptable on the adoption floor until they are adopted, or if, for whatever reason, their behavioral or medical status no longer meets the adoption criteria. 

Stray animals (including kittens) that are found in the Rosemont area should be taken to the Sacramento County shelter on Bradshaw Road. If you are contemplating bringing a kitten(s) into the shelter and are reluctant because you are afraid of what might happen to them, you must also then be afraid of what might happen if you don’t.  If left outside, even if the kittens have their mother with them until they are old enough to venture out on their own, they will still be susceptible to illness due to the lack of vaccinations, at risk of being hit by a car or attacked by another animal and most importantly, they will be ready to create more litters as early as 6 months of age.     

If one female cat can produce five to nine kittens per year, and her female kittens can do the same and so on and so on, you can see the dilemma.  Shelter foster programs will also place nursing mothers and their kittens in foster homes as well.  In my opinion, stray kittens will be better off at the shelter, where they can be properly evaluated, taken care of, and most importantly it will take the much-needed steps to break the cycle of overpopulation. 

Does every cat or kitten that comes through the shelter make it to adoption? The sad reality of our severe overpopulation problem is no, not every cat or kitten that comes through the shelter makes it. Euthanasia does exist in the shelter system, but I assure you it is not a subject taken lightly.  Shelter employees do not work there because they enjoy this realistic aspect of their job, but rather because they want to work hard to make that outcome less likely and eventually nonexistent.

The hard fact of the matter is that there is not enough money, not enough space and not enough employees to care for the sheer number of cats and kittens brought into the shelter daily, particularly during kitten season.  This means those animals that are sick beyond routine treatment or who are behaviorally unstable will most likely be euthanized. 

During kitten season, motherless kittens that are unable to eat food on their own (typically under the age of 4 weeks) will also be considered for euthanasia.  The reality is that not many people have the ability to bottle feed a kitten every two hours for four weeks straight.  In addition, kittens that young are unable to release their bowels on their own, and must be manually stimulated to do so (also done every two hours).  There are however some amazing rescues that specialize in such care, like the Itsie Bitsie Rescue.  When possible, shelters will call upon such rescues when they cannot accommodate “bottle babies.” Unfortunately, during kitten season, the number of "bottle babies" turned into the shelters is staggering and most shelter systems as well as specialized rescues, cannot keep up.  Kittens this young are very susceptible to illness and malnutrition, as they typically receive much needed immune system and nutritional boosts that only their mother's milk can provide.  This is a sad reality that no one who works in the shelter system enjoys.  But until the overpopulation problem is under control, it is a reality that they must face every day.

But why can’t all shelters be “no kill” shelters?  Here is another reality, there is no such thing as a completely "no kill" shelter.  Rather, there are private rescues that are extremely selective of who they take in and as a result can turn away untreatably sick, feral, or aggressive animals.  While I am in no way denouncing the work of such rescues, I feel it is unfair of them to boast about being “no kill” while other shelters have no choice as to who they take in.  County, city or other government funded shelters are required by law to take in any animals found in their jurisdiction, regardless of their condition or temperament.    

While euthanasia is a sad reality of the shelter system, we must not ignore all of the amazing work done by such institutions.  Ever year hundreds of young kittens (along with cats, dogs, puppies, rabbits, and many other species) are saved by the generous shelter volunteers and staff members willing to take in a few fur balls until they are big enough for adoption.  My husband and I currently have four kittens (see attached picture) from the Sacramento SPCA.  In approximately three to four weeks they will be old enough for adoption and on their way to finding their forever homes.

The big picture here is to remember the immense importance of spaying and neutering your pets!  The Sacramento SPCA as well as the Sacramento County shelter (whose spay/neuter clinic is run by the SSPCA) both offer low cost spay and neuter program.  Click here for more information.   

If you are unable to become a foster parent, but are looking for ways to help during this kitten season, shelters are always in need of towels, toys, blankets and pet beds.  You can also call and check with the shelter of your choice to inquire about their specific needs.

Monetary donations are also always welcome.  My husband and I will be participating in the Sacramento SPCA’s annual 5k Doggy Dash walk on June 4, 2011.  All proceeds from the event go directly to shelter services.  If you would like to make a contribution to our team, Team Teri, CLICK HERE.  Currently, we are 83 percent of the way to our $2,000 goal, with only 15 days to go.  No donation is too small; any amount would be much appreciated.

** If you have any questions, comments or concerns please feel free to email me at melsmenagerie@gmail.com.  More pet related blogs on the way, so check back soon!