topic Spring Kitten Season PSA in Community Chat

Spring Kitten Season PSA

Marp2 — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 21:25:03 GMT

It's that time of year again! Do you know what to do if you find a kitten? Young kittens are very fragile, and what you do next can make the difference between life and death! Please help spread the word:

- If the kitten appears to be in distress, cold, limp, lethargic or not moving much, he needs immediate medical attention.

- If he appears to be alert, stay a short distance away and observe to see if his mom comes back for him while you call your local no-kill shelter or SPCA. They are the best people to advise you on what to do next based on your exact situation.

IN GENERAL:

- ONLY feed with formula specifically made for kittens. Cow's milk does not have the nutrition a kitten needs, and will wreak havoc on a kitten's fragile digestive system.

- After feeding, you'll need to gently rub their bottoms to stimulate them to go to the bathroom. It's one of the more glamorous parts of saving a kitten's life. smile emoticon

- Young kittens need to eat every 2-3 hours around the clock.

- Young kittens can not regulate their own body temperature, so it is critical to keep them warm and away from drafts. A box with blankets and a heating pad at one end is a great way to give them something warm to cuddle up with, as long as they have space to move away from the heating pad if they get too warm.

Courtesy of Tinykittens

Re: Spring Kitten Season PSA

hckynut — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 21:37:27 GMT

Thank you for posting this PSA. Many do not know the correct action tto take in these situations. We unfortunately have raised so many baby kittens I have lost track of the number. Many were born right outside our homes. Some were thrown out on the highway "moms to be" others we are not sure.

Please do as much as you can to help all these precious little babies, and I thank all of you.

Re: Spring Kitten Season PSA

PIT-HAG Melissa — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 21:44:48 GMT

Re: Spring Kitten Season PSA

NoelSeven — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 21:46:20 GMT

Thank you, Marp! I didn't know the part about rubbing their bottoms, that's not something to overlook

Saving this valuable information...

Re: Spring Kitten Season PSA

Burnsite — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 22:37:03 GMT

Thanks, marp. Female cats ovulate when it is sunnier, so spring begins kitten season in many parts of the country. In Florida, there are homeless kittens all year long. Bless everyone who tries to save these little waifs.

My now-12 year old cat Percy was rejected by his mother and left to die; a rescue angel fed him and got him to a no-kill shelter in Naples, FL, and Siamese Rescue got him to me.

His momma was right--there were issues. P had pancreatitis and a bone condition; but both could be corrected, and he has the best, sunniest, sweetest temperament, partly because of the "kindness of strangers" he experienced for the first year of his life. His outlook teaches me optimism every day. (Of course his cautious foster-sister Claire daily teaches me caution from her own stock of experience.)

We can make such a difference and receive such joy from rescuing these little ones.

Re: Spring Kitten Season PSA

Lucky Charm — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 22:40:29 GMT

I didn't realize about females ovulating in summer only.

Lots of ferals in the 2 different beach towns we own in. Both have awesome rescues in place. The police station feeds the ferals in one town.

Re: Spring Kitten Season PSA

Burnsite — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 22:41:48 GMT

Hi, Lucky--late spring is considered kitten season but it depends on the climate--sunshine and ovulation are correlated in cats, or so I learned through Siamese Rescue.

Re: Spring Kitten Season PSA

feline groovy — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 01:10:20 GMT

Bless you, Marp, for this very important PSA.