How You Can Help The Quad Cities During “Kitten Season”

Stories about people not taking care of their pets are always so tragic to read about. Just yesterday a story broke about 30 cats and kittens who were rescued from ‘feces-filled home.' It was a hard read and got me thinking about the even harder part which is finding these little guys a home.

The summer is always especially hard for shelters and other rescuers because it is "kitten season." There is a way you can help though.

What Is Kitten Season

This time of the year usually lasts between the months of April and October. During this time, we see an increase in female cats giving birth. According drelseys.com, there are a variety of factors including longer days, warmer weather, and increased access to food can attribute to this kitten season.

Unlike other animals, cats can keep birthing litter after litter until the season comes to an end. A quick feline biology lesson, female cats can become pregnant at five months and produce several litters in a single year. With each litter averaging between four and six kittens, overpopulation can quickly become a problem.

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The Numbers

Drelseys.com also reports that even with 28% of the 128 million households in the U.S. owning cats, nearly 1.4 million cats every year fail to find a good home.

If we can get an additional 1% of U.S. households to adopt a cat, we could keep these loving family members alive and out of shelters.

 

How We Can Help

This issue is very close to me, and my family. My mother has adopted many cats over the years and has taken up fostering as well for local shelters, and individuals who can no longer care for their pets in the Cedar Rapids area. If you have the means to adopt or foster that can truly help make a difference in the area. It's easy to start, and all you have to do is be a reasonable foster parent for these kittens, and cats. Other ways you can help are as follows:

1. The best way to help alleviate overcrowding in shelters is to ensure that your cats are spayed or neutered.

2. If you are considering adopting or fostering, consider visiting your local shelter.