Kitten Season is here and help is needed now!

Debbie Snapp
ECB Publishing, Inc.

As winter draws to a close and the weather begins to warm, many female cats are in heat and 60 days later, they begin giving birth to litters of kittens. During kitten season, area shelters throughout the country are flooded with cats and kittens.

Everyone knows that rabbits are prolific breeders but did you know that cats are almost as prolific? A female cat can become pregnant at five months and can have several litters in one year. Each litter averages between four to six kittens and that can amount to 12 to 18 kittens per year; that's a lot of baby cats!

The best way to help during kitten season is to ensure that your cats are spayed or neutered. This is true even for indoor-only cats. As we all know, cats can be sneaky. The door only has to be open for a moment for your cat to escape and come back pregnant.

According to the Humane Society of the United States, millions of feral or roaming cats live outdoors and contribute to breeding cycles.

Help prevent local strays from contributing to the problem by contacting a local trap-neuter-return (TNR) facilities. These groups will usually loan you a trap to catch local strays. After the strays are spayed or neutered, they are returned to your neighborhood where they help stabilize and ultimately reduce the feral cat population.

Consider adopting a cat from a local shelter, especially during kitten season. You can usually find cats and kittens of all sizes, shapes, colors, ages and breeds. Encourage your friends and neighbors to adopt as well.

Not everyone may want to or be able to adopt a cat. Adopting an animal is a big responsibility, after all. Maybe you’ve never had a pet of your own and you’re not sure if you’re ready for that level of commitment. Or, maybe you already have plenty of cats at home and you don’t want to go overboard. Whatever the reason, fostering a kitten may be the perfect compromise.

Animal shelters often rely on foster parents to take care of young kittens until they are old enough to be adopted. Many of the kittens that shelters will be receiving in the upcoming weeks are very young and need hands-on care that shelter staff cannot always provide - fosters can care for young kittens and then bring them to the shelter once they are older.

Making a generous donation to a cat and kitten facility is also a tremendous help. Whether your support is financial or in the form of food, litter or supplies, your gift will make a difference.

For more information about ways to become involved or to adopt a cat for your home or farm, contact the Jefferson County Humane Society at the Wolf Creek Pet Adoption Center, (850) 342-0244 or (850) 997-2416.

You can also contact SnappHappy Feral Cat Sanctuary at (850) 997-0901 or (850) 464-6257 about meeting the adorable, lovable cats that are currently being cared for at the sanctuary and are in need of forever homes.