Kitten Resources

According to the Humane Society of the United States, kitten season 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 fall.

Because too many kittens are born when cats that are not spayed or neutered mate.  The easiest way to help reduce the overwhelming numbers of unwanted cats is to spay and neuter your own cat and encourage others to do the same.

Unaltered cats are driven by their hormones and tend to sneak outdoors primarily in search of a mate. Mating just once can start a domino effect that can result in dozens, even hundreds or thousands of unwanted animals. To learn more about Ark-Valley Humane Society’s FREE owned cats and feral cats spay and neuter programs, click here.

Unless in immediate danger, leave kittens where they are.  There is a good chance mom is nearby.  Read this article from Animal Alliance NYC to find out how you can best help found kittens.  If you find kittens outside and are possibly interested in raising the kittens in your home until they can be adopted, please read this article from Alley Cat Allies that explains important things you must take into consideration prior to taking in a litter of kittens from the outdoors.

Read about our TNR program and how to humanely trap the mom here.

The best place for kittens under eight weeks of age or under two pounds is with their mother, if at all possible. To help you determine the kitten’s age, read this article from Alley Cat Allies.

AVHS can support you in raising a litter of kittens in the following ways:

• Foster in Your Home: If you decide you would like to partner with AVHS by fostering a litter of kittens, you will be provided with a Kitten Care Kit.
• Scheduled Shelter Intake: Our foster coordinator matches your kittens to an established AVHS foster home.
• Older Kittens: Kittens over eight weeks old and weighing at least two pounds are eligible to be adopted through the shelter.
• Kitten Adoptions: All kittens adopted through Ark-Valley Humane Society are vaccinated, microchipped, FeLV/FIV combo tested, and spayed or neutered prior to going home.

Check out the list of questions and responses on our Lost & Found Pets page to help guide you in your plan for this cat.