We welcome the arrival of spring this coming Tuesday. And with it, we’re getting ready for the beginning of one other season — kitten season.
By now, lots of my common readers know all about kitten season. It’s the prolonged time period spanning March via November when hundreds of kittens come via Pasadena Humane’s doorways in want of additional TLC.
Don’t get me improper. In our heat local weather, kittens may be born year-round. But, we undoubtedly see a proliferation beginning this time of 12 months, a full blown kittenpalooza in the summertime and fall, after which a quick reprieve within the winter months.
Many of the kittens coming into the shelter are neonate orphans we name “bottle babies.” Some are only some hours or just a few days old, with their umbilical cords nonetheless hooked up and eyes closed.
Because these tiny felines are usually not but consuming on their very own, they must be fed a particular kitten system across the clock.
The feeding schedule begins at each two hours then progressively extends to each 5 hours as they’re slowly launched to stable meals. Weaning begins when the children are 4 to five weeks old.
Bottle infants are one of the vulnerable forms of animals in our care. They are usually not in a position to regulate their very own physique temperature, in order that they have to be stored heat always.
Luckily, since they aren’t cellular but, it’s protected for them to remain in a confined house — like a service or crate — with a heating pad set to low.
As you may see, elevating these itty-bitty kitties with out their mothers is quite a lot of work. And we’re lucky to have a military of foster volunteers to assist.
“Pasadena Humane could not save these tiny kittens without the support of fosters,” explains Pasadena Humane’s foster program supervisor, Nadia Cubias. “By fostering a kitten, you are truly saving a life.”
In 2023, a record-breaking 1,621 kittens graduated from our foster program, a real testomony to the dedication of our volunteers.
Despite the calls for of fostering, it’s an extremely gratifying endeavor.
In the primary few weeks of life, kittens undergo many essential developmental milestones. In the blink of an eye fixed, they remodel from helpless infants into full-fledged mini cats leaping, working and climbing with abandon.
Kittens keep in foster houses till they weigh sufficient to endure spay or neuter surgical procedure. That’s normally between six and eight weeks. Then they arrive again to the shelter the place they are often placed for adoption.
Pasadena Humane is now recruiting kitten foster volunteers for each bottle infants and weaned kittens. Anyone can develop into a foster father or mother to kittens in want. No earlier expertise is important.
We present all of the provides and veterinary care, and we’re available to offer step-by-step steerage whilst you foster.
To assist us put together for kitten season this 12 months, we’re throwing a “Kitten Shower” subsequent Sunday, March 24.
We’ll be joined by Hannah Shaw, an award-winning kitten rescuer, New York Times bestselling writer, and social media influencer popularly referred to as “Kitten Lady.” Shaw will lead two workshops on fostering and kitten care and provide meet-and-greets for followers.
Other Kitten Shower actions embrace a kitten-naming station, a raffle, and sign-ups for life-saving heroes concerned with changing into kitten foster households.
We are additionally accumulating donations for our foster program via our Shelter Shop and Amazon Wish List.
We want the help of our beneficiant group to donate important provides like kitten milk substitute (KMR), specifically formulated kitten meals, bottles, nipples, child wipes, heating pads and extra.
Kitten Shower with Kitten Lady, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. March 24. Tickets $35; $75 VIP (select a time slot for this ticket sort). Purchase tickets on Eventbrite: tinyurl.com/3wkn8knz
To be taught extra about fostering, donating kitten provides and getting tickets to our Kitten Shower with Kitten Lady, go to pasadenahumane.org/helpkittens
Dia DuVernet is president and CEO of Pasadena Humane. pasadenahumane.org
