Spring was kitten season. It’s weird, I know, that there is a season for kittens, but we tend to see a large bump in litters starting in late spring and extending through the summer. This means that right about now we begin to see a large number of kittens and young cats looking for adoptive homes.
Why is this important to know? Shelters are overloaded, fosters have litters they are trying to find homes for, and resources are running thin.
Most of these kittens come from unwanted litters, either from feral or unspayed cats. There are many groups out there working on reducing the feral population by trapping, spaying and neutering and the releasing these ferals to prevent future litters. It sounds odd, but it is an effective way of “fixing” the problem, as most of these feral cats are unadoptable.
I’m not suggesting we fix the problem by everyone going out and adopting a kitten or two — although that would be awesome. It’s easy to fall in love with one of these little balls of fur, and they do make tremendous additions to any home. But if you aren’t properly prepared for the immediate and long-term responsibilities, the time, space, and money required to house the cat a kitten rapidly turns into, you can end up with the harder problem of finding a cat a home.
If you do have the space in your home and life for a feline friend, by all means, there are so many out there! Fifteen to 20 years of companionship and entertainment is available for a minor adoption fee and modest monthly expenses. So, if you are ready for a long-term relationship, it’s not hard to find a match.
If you aren’t ready to commit at the moment, that doesn’t mean you can’t help. Rescues and shelters need resources to take care of all those animals in their care.
The most needed resource is money. Money to pay vet bills, money to purchase supplies, money to pay rent. This money is raised through direct donations or by fundraising. Volunteers put together events, auctions, raffles, or other ideas to raise money. Participating in the events, buying donated items, or helping with these efforts can really help these organizations.
Finding a group that echoes what you agree with is not that hard, and your level of commitment can be as little or as much as you desire. Any help is always appreciated.
Fosters are also needed, people who can’t commit long-term to adoption can take shorter-term fosters from places with no capacity. Whether you take just one cat, or a litter of kittens, short-term housing can really help a shelter.
Is there an easy fix for the cat population problem? Not really. Luckily, we have many volunteers doing the almost thankless job of raising funds and caring for these animals seeking a furever home.
