COMMUNITY
It's Kitten Season!
It's not as cute as it sounds.
Warm weather brings a surge of kittens to Chicagoland communities. This can overwhelm our shelters.
Female cats can begin reproducing between 4-6 months of age, especially during spring & summer months when more food is available & environmental factors positively impact the chance of survival for young kittens.
From early spring through late fall, female cats can produce several litters, each with 4-6 kittens. During the 7-10 year life expectancy for community cats, this can total 160 kittens for one female cat.
What Is Kitten Season?
Why Should I Care?
The rapid influx of community kittens means overcrowding in shelters, fewer resources available, as well as higher demand for food, veterinary care, and pet seeking parents looking to add to their family or provide temporary care as a foster.
Being as young as they are, kittens are especially vulnerable. Neonatal kittens can require full-time care to include round-the-clock feeding and the stimulation provided by a mama cat so they can go to the bathroom.
Kittens face health challenges as their immune systems are not fully developed. They require timely and necessary vaccines during the first sixteen weeks of life, which is around the time that natural antibodies from mama cat wear off.
The socialization of kittens during the first 2-10 weeks of age is also significant to their success of finding a forever home. Effective socialization ensures kittens are not fearful of humans and present with fewer challenges during the adjustment period into their new home.
How Can I Help?
Make sure you spay and neuter your pets and encourage others to do the
same! Responsible pet ownership means preventing unwanted litters and not adding to the overpopulation of animals in our communities.
Consider being a foster, donate supplies, or learn more about Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) and how you can take on a more active role.
Share what you know about kitten season. Human connection and social media can go a long way to raise awareness and motivate others to get involved.
Understanding the challenges of kitten season and how you can have a positive impact in stopping the overpopulation of cats will help communities and shelters from being overwhelmed, ensure vulnerable kittens receive proper care, and give these kittens the best chance at finding their forever home.
Help CALM reduce the number of feral cat births & care for the kittens that need a home!
Spay or Neuter costs $100
Kitten care (vaccines, rabies prevention, testing, spay/neuter services) costs $250 per kitten
Please donate today or check out our wish list for items you can give to support our cause!