It’s kitten season!
The SPCA shelter in Largo is already overrun with tiny kittens. They're prepared to be swamped with even more baby cats in the summer months ahead!
SPCA is sending an urgent message to you to be on the lookout for kittens in your neighborhood.
They're best advice: if you see kittens, keep an eye on them for a day or two, then call your local shelter.
SPCA says it's important to trap the cats and neuter or spay them as soon as they weigh 2 pounds
SPCA Tampa Bay says kitten season is difficult because the baby cats fill up so much space in their shelter.
The number of homeless cats can swell by hundreds each spring and summer.
Carolyn Wisniewski with SPCA Tampa Bay explained, ”Kitten season in Florida actually goes longer than the rest of the country because it is so warm here so basically what that means is we have lots and lots of kittens.”
SPCA is also desperately looking for foster homes for the kittens. If you're interested, you can call their shelter in Largo.
The number of homeless cats can swell by hundreds each spring and summer.
More kittens in shelters also can make it harder for adoptions teams to find homes for older cats.
There are several ways you can help ease the burden on local shelters during kitten season:
- Spay or neuter your cats. Cats can become pregnant as young as 5 months old, so it’s important to spay or neuter them as early as possible. Kittens should be at least 3 months old (12 weeks) and weigh 2 pounds or more before being spayed or neutered. It’s never too late to spay or neuter adult animals, but be aware that senior pets may face a greater risk of post-operative complications. Talk to your veterinarian about spaying or neutering your cat or learn more about the spay and neuter services available at SPCA Tampa Bay’s Veterinary Center at spcatampabay.org/pet-spay-neuter.
- Support TNVR programs. Pinellas County has thousands of free-roaming community cats, and TNVR (trap-neuter-vaccinate-return) programs, like local partner MEOW Now, work to provide vaccines for community cat populations and to reduce the number cats entering shelters by spaying and neutering community cats. Volunteers humanely trap community cats, which are then spayed or neutered, vaccinated against rabies and other common viruses found in cats, and returned to their colonies. Visit meownowfl.org to learn more about TNVR.
- Become a foster parent. Many of the kittens SPCA Tampa Bay and other shelters receive are too young to be adopted right away. Foster parents can welcome a kitten into their home and provide a nurturing and comfortable environment until the kitten is old enough to be adopted. Check with your local shelter about its foster programs. To learn more about SPCA Tampa Bay’s foster program, email foster@spcatampabay.org.
For more information on fostering kittens or to learn about the kittens and cats available for adoption at SPCA Tampa Bay, call 727-586-3591 or visit spcatampabay.org.
