While most people sense the arrival of Spring through flowers blooming and the temperature warming, here at SHS, we can tell the change in season by the number of kittens that enter our care. It’s time for kitten season! While this time of year is especially fun, it comes with a darker side, as we often encounter kittens with severe upper respiratory infections, flea infestations, and ringworm in need of our help. This spring, it’s vital that we work as a community to reduce the number of abandoned and unwanted kittens that flow into shelters across the nation. As cute as they are, we don’t need more of them! 
Abandoned Kittens:
We see it all the time—a kitten abandoned on the side of the road, hiding under a porch, or wandering the neighborhood. The natural reaction when we see a kitten, or kittens, alone, is to “save” them. Often, kittens don’t need to be saved, and by taking them you are accidentally “kitnapping.” A kitten’s best chance of survival is with their mother, and while they may appear abandoned, the mom is likely nearby. Before removing a kitten from their environment, answer these key questions: 
- Does the kitten appear healthy and nourished?
- If yes, that likely means that mom is feeding and caring for them.
- If they appear malnourished, dehydrated, cold, or unresponsive, act immediately! If it’s between the hours of 9am and 4pm, contact our foster coordinator at (509) 847-5591. If it’s outside of our hours, please assess if the kitten will make it until morning, and if not, take them to an emergency clinic.
- How old is the kitten?
- If the healthy kitten appears under six weeks old, search for mom cat. She may be off hunting or hiding from you. A good trick is to place a ring of flour around the kitten and check on it throughout the day. If the flour is disturbed, it means mom is around! Another way to tell is if the kitten has a full, round belly. If so, it means mom is caring for them and you can leave them be.
- If mom hasn’t made an appearance, it’s okay to take the kitten. Mom may have abandoned them!
- If the kitten is older than six weeks and appears healthy, friendly, and eating on its own, you can help find it a home! We recommend using social media such as rehoming Facebook groups and your own social network to help them find a loving home. You can also email intake@spokanehumanesociety.org to discuss admission into our care.
Reducing Unwanted Kittens:
A critical way to reduce the number of unwanted kittens in our community is through spaying and neutering! Not only does this reduce animal overpopulation, but spaying and neutering can help curb unwanted behaviors such a spraying, yowling, roaming, and aggression.
We offer reduced cost spay and neuter appointments for demonstrated low-income individuals at our clinic. Make your appointment today at
www.spokanehumanesociety.org/vet-clinic/.
If your neighborhood has a high population of stray cats, you can contact a TNR (trap, neuter, release) program to make sure the colony doesn’t grow. Pet Savers is a great resource for TNR, you can learn more at www.petsaversspokane.org/community-cats.
Mom + Kittens:
If your cat becomes pregnant and gives birth, it’s important to focus your care just on mom cat. Make sure she has plenty to eat and let her be. Mom cats can become easily stressed if people are constantly touching or intervening with her kittens and she’ll stop caring for them. By keeping mom happy, the kittens have the best chance of survival.
If mom stops feeding her babies, it’s important to spring into action. We recommend using KMR powder formula, which you can mix with warm water and feed through a syringe with a nipple attachment. Newborn babies will need constant feeding and care.
Kitten Lady is a fantastic resource for kitten care information. Check her out here: www.kittenlady.org/kitten-care
We are always a resource for you! If you have any questions about kitten care, feel free to reach out to our Foster Coordinator by emailing gracec@spokanehumanesociety.org. We are happy to answer any questions you have or discuss rehoming options for found kittens.
