Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League Provides Key Tips to Help Kittens Thrive During Kitten Season
Palm Beach County, FL-(April 21, 2015) Kitten season is upon us and is the time of year when cats give birth, flooding animal shelters and rescue groups across the nation with homeless litters. Kitten season is really three seasons in one, starting in spring, peaking in late spring or early summer and ending in the fall. Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League is providing critical public awareness tips for the public to help kittens, shelters and community withstand the season. The abundance of litters throughout the area typically causes an unnecessary increased intake of kittens at area shelters even though it is best for kittens to be left with their mothers.
“The goal is to keep the mother and kittens together to ensure the best chances for the kittens’ survival, until the kittens are weaned and can be safely removed for socialization and adoption,” said Rich Anderson, Executive Director and CEO of Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League.
Animal shelters similar to Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League are significantly impacted during this time of year, even though kittens need their mothers to survive. It also causes impact to shelter staff who do not have the resources to feed the kittens around the clock.
Before jumping to the rescue, consider the following:
- In the first weeks of their lives, kittens need their mother’s care and antibodies from her milk. As they grow, the mother will begin to give her kittens the critical training needed to survive on their own.
- Before concluding that the kittens have been abandoned, quietly observe from a safe distance to determine if the mother is present. The mother will continually stay with her litter for the first day or two after giving birth. Then, she will need to leave for short periods of time to find food for herself. If the mother is not present, she is most likely scouting for food and will return.
- A mother cat will instinctively move her nest of kittens. If a single, young kitten is spotted, it is likely that it is the first of the group to be moved to the new location or the last of the group to get moved from the old location.
- Do not interfere with the kittens or the space they are occupying. It is essential to not handle them, create shelter, or feed them as long as the mother is around. These interventions may cause the mother stress and for her to abandon her family.
- Help by providing food and water to the mother. Be sure to place food and water far enough away from the nest so you do not disturb the mother and kittens, or draw predators.
- Cats should be brought in for spay/neuter once the kittens are weaned. For details visit, www.peggyadams.org/found-kitten-resources and www.peggyadams.org/feral-cat-tnr-trap-neuter-return.
Following these simple measures will increase the survival rate of the kittens, allowing them to thrive in their natural environment. Additionally, it will allow local animal shelters to use their resources to further assist the current shelter population with the critical care they need and help place adoptable animals in homes.
For additional information on Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League and more details on Kitten Season, visit peggyadams.org or call 561.686.3663.
About Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League
Our mission is to provide shelter to lost, homeless and unwanted animals, to provide spay and neuter and other medical services for companion animals, and to care for, protect, and find quality homes for homeless and neglected companion animals, to advocate animal welfare, community involvement and education to further the bond between people and animals. For more information, visit www.PeggyAdams.org or call 561-686-3663.