Last Friday morning, staff at the SPCA Albrecht Center for Animal Welfare were greeted with an unexpected yet familiar sight: a mother cat and her kitten, nestled in a wire crate at our front door with an open can of cat food, a handful of cat treats and a small rock. We named them Wilma and Pebbles.
Pebbles became the 98th kitten in our care, joining dozens of others under 3 months old — most of whom are even younger than 2 months. While many of these kittens are lucky enough to be in foster homes, others remain at the shelter relying on our dedicated, albeit overwhelmed, team.
The ideal situation for any homeless kitten is to stay with its mother, benefiting from her milk, warmth and love until they are old enough to be weaned. After weaning, they receive vaccinations and are spayed or neutered before being placed for adoption. Their mother receives the same care, breaking the cycle of reproduction.
Unfortunately, many kittens come to us without their mothers, requiring intensive, round-the-clock bottle feeding. It’s crucial to verify that a kitten has truly been abandoned before rescuing them, as their mother is often out searching for food. Kittens have a higher survival rate with their mothers, and keeping the family together improves the chances of also spaying the mother, ending another cycle of reproduction.
Managing the care of so many kittens requires significant community support through fostering and donations. Fostering is essential until the kittens (and puppies) reach 6-8 weeks old, or up to 10 weeks if they are underweight or ill. Kittens without mothers need to be bottle-fed every two to four hours.
Fosters receive all necessary supplies and veterinary care. To be a foster, you must be over 18, have a separate space in your home away from other pets, ensure all current pets are vaccinated and spayed or neutered, and have the consent of everyone in your household, including landlords or managers if you rent. If you can open your heart and home to foster, please apply at LetLoveLive.org/foster.
If fostering isn’t an option for you, donations are just as critical. They help us cover the extensive costs of veterinary care, foster supplies, and food. Every contribution makes a substantial impact and helps us save more lives. You can make a difference today by donating at LetLoveLive.org/kitten-season.
