"Kitten Season" Numbers Pose Problem for Second Chance Pet Rescue

March 18, 2019
When you hear the phrase "kitten season," your mind may conjure images of sweet, fluffy kittens happily romping around on a sunny day.  And, of course, kittens are that cute.  However, the real situation isn't sweet at all for Second Chance Pet Rescue.  Kitten season can be the very worst time of year.  Kitten season is the period when births peak.  It happens twice each year: once in the spring and once in the fall.  But the more intense kitten season happens in the spring.  
With all the kittens born this spring alone, there simply aren't enough homes for all of them.  Instead, they overwhelm our shelter which is limited for space at the best of times.  In our shelter's waiting room, there will be people with boxes of kittens, phone calls from individuals who can't find homes for their kittens, or even worst, abandoned kittens left to die at trash dumpsters or parking lots simply because someone failed to spay their female cat.  

You may be thinking that kittens are easier to place in homes compared to older cats.  But while kittens can be more desirable to potential adopters, our shelter does not have the resources to care for very young kittens.  Neonate kittens - those who are about 2-3 weeks old - must be bottle-fed every few hours.  Our shelter must place them with someone who is trained to care for neonates.  And kittens older than 3 weeks still require extra care.  Their immune systems aren't strong, so disease and illness are concerns.

How can you help save kittens?  The vast numbers of cats cared for by Second Chance Pet Rescue, especially during kitten season, will not drop overnight and will not drop without your help.  

1.  Spay or neuter your cats.  Cats can become pregnant as young as five months of age.  Fortunately, kittens as young as two months can be safely altered.  Second Chance Pet Rescue offers the public a low-cost spay/neuter clinic every Wednesday regardless of their economic status.  Call the shelter today at 918-786-7630 for an appointment or make an appointment with your veterinarian.  Just do it to STOP unwanted litters and STOP homeless cats and dogs.

2.  Donate supplies, money, or your time.  Second Chance Pet Rescue is always in need of volunteers and/or foster parents to help care for the influx of kittens expected at our shelter during this time of "kitten season".  Contact Lysa Boston, Shelter Manager at 918-786-7630, or email doitforthepets@gmail.com with your interest to help. 

3.  Adopt a cat.  Open your home to a new cat or adopt a playmate for your existing pets.  

Monetary donations are always needed to continue Second Chance Pet Rescue's mission.  It is an independent non-profit animal rescue that keeps its doors open only through the generosity of individual donations.  No funding is received from city, state, or federal government entities, or from other national animal rescue organizations.  Please help by mailing your tax-deductible donation to P.O. Box 451205 or donate electronically via its secure website www.doitforthepets.com.  

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