With the kitten season upon us, there is a surge of little ones at animal shelters around the United States. Shelters are often overcapacity during this time of the year. Thus, several of them are encouraging people to spay and neuter stray cats to help tackle the kitten season.
Shelters remind people to spay and neuter strays due to onset of kitten season
Animal shelters nationwide have noticed an increase in kitten intakes in 2024. With the kitten season peak lasting from around May to July, they could use all the help they can get to avoid overcapacity facilities.
According to WKRC, the Cincinnati, Ohio shelter, League for Animal Welfare, noticed a 75% increase this year compared to 2023. Moreover, kittens need a lot of care, as most need to be bottle-fed several times a day. However, this can be avoided to a certain extent if people bring in strays to be spayed and neutered.
The Executive Director of the League for Animal Welfare, Devon Smith, noted that while kitties are adorable, kitten season is something most rescue workers don’t look forward to. The little ones must be bottle-fed until they are ready for solid food. This often means working tirelessly for several months.
Elk Country Animal Shelter in Atlanta, Michigan, also urged people to spay and neuter cats after they rescue abandoned kittens. The shelter has been taking in strays non-stop since the kitten season began. Moreover, it has been holding spay and neuter drives twice a week. This helps the community, but it is most beneficial for the shelter. Executive Director Pauline Hancock told WPBN that they “can’t keep up with the influx of cats coming in.”
While rescuing kittens during this season is necessary, one must also make their best efforts to find the mama cat to spay her. The League for Animal Welfare spays and neuters about 40 felines daily to help tackle the stray issue. With people joining hands to help fix as many cats as possible, the kitten intake can be controlled without the shelters running the risk of overcrowding.
