Fosters desperately needed this kitten season!

Heather Ainsley
ECB Publishing, Inc.

Kitten Season is officially in full swing. For those who may not know, the term kitten season refers to a phenomenon that begins in spring. As winter months lead steadily into warmer spring weather, unaltered female cats come into heat. Sixty days after mating, they give birth to litters of kittens. In areas where there are high numbers of unaltered stray or outdoor cats, this means lots and lots of kittens.
While cat-lovers everywhere may feel like there could be no better season on earth than one dedicated to the adorable baby felines, with their cute little faces and their tiny toe beans, kitten season is a reality that many in the animal rescue field dread.
How can this be? Kittens are cute! They are cuddly! They are so much fun to play with! While all of this is true, the sudden influx of abandoned or discovered kitten litters leaves rescues and shelters overwhelmed with dozens of tiny little orphaned cats. The timing of the kitten arrival means that there is often not time to transition kittens into their adoptive homes as quickly as they are coming in. Vet offices that are used to provide necessary vetting to each kitten also become overwhelmed with appointments, leading to longer hold times on adoptions as more kittens keep flooding into the rescue systems. These orphans are often housed in tight quarters, as more kittens means less room available per kitten. Close quarters opens shelters up to the concern of the swift spread of illness and disease, which can often lead to death.
Kittens who have been abandoned by their mother too early can have trouble adjusting right away to life on their own, and need regular formula feedings, stimulation to use the bathroom, and regular wipe-downs to keep them clean. While this is a simple task when infant kittens are kept in a home setting, in a group setting, this can quickly become overwhelming to a rescue or shelter who is understaffed or who has taken in more kittens than their facility can handle.
During kitten season, shelters quickly become filled over their capacity. In order to provide adequate care of the huge influx of kittens during kitten season, they rely heavily on the help of fosters.
Fosters are individuals who temporarily agree to take care of a kitten or litter of kittens, until the shelter can process enough adoptions to make room for them at the facility again. When fostering, a family can enjoy all the pleasures of having a kitten without the commitment of keeping a cat for its entire life. During the fostering process, a kitten will undergo necessary vetting in the form of any needed medications, all necessary shots, and will be spayed or neutered, all at no cost to their foster family. Fosters will be able to attend adoption events scheduled by the rescue or shelter, and have a hand in the adoption process if they wish to and if the specific shelter allows.
The use of fosters helps to separate a large population of kittens at a rescue or shelter into small, manageable individuals that can be given one on one care by a family. It has been proven that kittens who receive individualized care from fosters are more likely to overcome mild illnesses, develop good socialization, and are more likely to find placement in good, quality homes than kittens who are reared by overwhelmed shelters.
How you can help:
Debbie Snapp with SnappHappy Feral Cat Sanctuary is currently over capacity with kittens! She is in desperate need of fosters and adopters to help move some of the kittens out of the rescue setting so they can receive individualized care. To foster, please contact her at (850) 997-0901 or (850) 464-6257 and leave a message if she does not pick up. She will call you back personally.
SnappHappy Feral Cat Sanctuary has served the community of Jefferson County since 2013, and many know Debbie as “the one who never says no.” She has taken in huge quantities of cats from all across the county and neighboring counties, including cats from the Jefferson County Humane Society and Animal Control. She currently spends $400 a week providing food, litter and medical care to these kittens, who often arrive sick, injured or underweight. While she is currently accepting donations, she says more than donations, she needs fosters and adoptive families for these kittens.
SnappHappy raises money for rescue efforts by collecting cans, holding fundraisers and through donations. They are a 501(c)(3) organization, and rely solely on the support of the community. If you cannot adopt or foster, and would like to help by leaving a donation, contact Debbie at the above numbers or you can mail a check to 3366 N. Salt Rd., Monticello, Fla., 32344.
The absolute best way you can help with kitten season is to spay and neuter your cats. Spay of a female cat will not only eliminate the risk of unwanted litters, but your cat will live a longer, healthier life. Spaying prevents uterine infections and breast tumors, which are malignant or cancerous in a whopping 90 percent of cats. Spaying your feline before her first heat cycle offers the best protection from these diseases. Neutering a male cat eliminates the risk of testicular cancer and also lowers the risk of prostate problems, including infection.
A spayed or neutered cat will be less likely to roam, display aggressive behaviors, bite, yowl, spray or mark their territory, and will not go into heat cycles, which are stressful on the animals.
It takes an entire community to take care of a community problem, like stray animals. We can each work together and do our part so that our beloved pets don't become unwanted pests.