March in Virginia means the first wave of outdoor kittens are being born. Did you know that kittens under 8 weeks old are the most euthanized population in animal shelters across America? Most shelters lack the resources and training to care for neonatal kittens, especially since they need around-the-clock care. Want to help save vulnerable lives? Learn what “Kitten Season” is and what to do if you find kittens outside.
- Don’t Kit-NAP! Every spring and summer, compassionate animal lovers often stumble upon a litter of newborn kittens and unintentionally become “kit-nappers.” We understand…it’s natural to want to help. However, it’s important to know that taking kittens away from their mothers can be harmful, increasing their chances of mortality by 40%. In most situations, human intervention isn’t necessary. Mother cats are naturally equipped to care for their kitten – providing essential antibodies through their milk, regulating body temperature, and ensuring proper bodily functions.
- CONGRATULATIONS: You’re Mom Now! If you take an unweaned kitten away from its mom, congratulations – you’re now its caregiver! Neonatal kittens need immediate and critical care to have the best chance of survival. If the kittens appear unwell or if the mother hasn’t returned after 12-14 hours, stepping in as a caretaker is a thoughtful option. However, you need to be able to assess the kittens’ age and provide the proper care. Visit our Kitten Resource Page for helpful videos and information!
- Fostering Saves Lives. If you’ve found yourself with kittens (oops), don’t panic! Attend one of our foster training sessions to learn how to care for kittens, or sign up to foster with the Fred SPCA. We can provide supplies, medical care, and training. Even if you can only commit to fostering your found kittens for a short time, that will give us enough time to reach out to our Fred Foster Fam for help!
- Add to Cart. Shelters like ours are often overwhelmed with limited resources. We care for 500-600 kittens annually, relying on generous donations to keep our kittens safe and fed. Every donation of supplies helps us provide critical resources for the dedicated foster families who nurture and care for these little ones.
- Better Together! We are grateful to the Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region’s Aune Sturdy Animal Protection Fund for awarding us a grant to kick off kitten season strong, allowing us to purchase critical supplies and offer training to our community! Since cats often do better in pairs, the grant covers the second adoption fee, making it a “Adopt One, Get One Fee-Waived” adoption deal for pairs!
