How you can help during kitten season

It’s officially kitten season, the part of the year when we have a large influx of young kittens in our shelter. Due to our warming weather patterns, kitten season usually starts as early as late February and will last through the summertime.

What to do if you see baby kittens:

• Your first instinct is to pick them up and bring them inside but it’s best to leave them alone for now.

• Kittens shouldn’t be separated from their mother until at least 5-weeks-old as they are still acquiring vital antibodies through their mom’s milk.

• If you have strong reason to believe that the kittens have been separated from mom (for example if she’s been hit by a car or you’re sure she’s left the neighborhood), bring the kittens to the Louisiana SPCA or contact our Humane Law Department to come and pick them up.

• If you’re unsure if mom is around, wait a few hours and check back on them. If mom hasn’t returned, then take them in.

• If mom is around, try to get the entire family or leave them be for now. If they live permanently in your neighborhood, once the kittens are weaned you can try and trap them individually.

Fostering Opportunities

Last year alone, more than 1,400 animals went through our foster program!

• Kittens younger than 2 months old will be placed into foster care. Those without mom will need to be bottle-feed and those with will remain with their mom.

•  Once kittens are big enough to be spayed/neutered they can be placed up for adoption.

If you want to join the life-saving foster program, visit us online at www.louisianaspca.org/foster or email us at foster@laspca.org.