It's officially kitten season, which means shelters and rescues across the country — and right here in Cincinnati — are about to see an influx of those cuddly little creatures.
And while they may be cute, a flood of kittens means an increase in need not only for adoptions, but also fosters and other animals supplies.
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), "Kitten season, otherwise known as feline breeding season, takes place during warm months (typically March through October, but varies across the country), and many shelters experience the bulk of their cat and kitten intake during this time."
The ASPCA says 90% of the 34,000 kittens that enter Los Angeles shelters arrive during kitten season. In New York City, that number is 84%. And of those 3.2 million cats that come in annually, almost 860,000 are euthanized (according to 2019 numbers).
So what can you do? Cincinnati Animal CARE, Hamilton County's humane society, will be hosting a special Kitten Shower 2-5 p.m. Sunday, April 25 at Wiedemann’s Beer in Saint Bernard. At this outdoor event you can donate cat and kitten food and supplies — just like you would bring a gift to a human baby shower. And, just like a baby shower, there will be plenty of games and prizes. Adoptable kittens will also be on-site looking for their forever homes.
Check out Cincinnati Animal CARE's Amazon wishlist at amazon.com. Requested gifts include everything from baby animal bottles and play pens to cat nip and kitty litter.
“Kitten season is when we start to see a huge increase in baby kittens, nursing mothers, and bottle babies, who are kittens without their mother who need around the clock care,” says Ray Anderson, media and community relations manager at Cincinnati Animal CARE. “Our Kitty City team is certainly ready for the challenge, but extra supplies and support from the community is always needed at the county shelter.”
Cincinnati Animal CARE is committed to a live release rate for all animals that come through their door. They also operate a Trap, Neuter, Release program for community cats to help decrease and control the population. Learn more about their mission and see their stats at cincinnatianimalcare.org.
Wiedemann's Beer is located at 4811 Vine St., Saint Bernard. For more information on the Kitten Shower, visit cincinnatianimalcare.org/events/kitten-shower.
