Every year as the weather changes, adult cats begin to mate and give birth to litters of kittens. We call it kitten season! In Chicago, kitten season can begin as early as April and last all the way until October. That’s a lot of kittens. Pretty cute problem to have, right?
In one year, one cat can have 12 – 18 kittens.
Those kittens can have 12 – 18 more kittens within six months.
And that’s just starting with one cat! Animal shelters become easily overwhelmed during kitten season. All those kittens in need of homes or rescue mean our resources are stretched to the limit.
This year, we hope to save more kittens than ever with your help. All season, we’ll be featuring the care our team dedicates to rescuing, nurturing, fostering, adopting, and caring for kittens.
Adopting Kittens
We know—kittens are irresistibly cute! While we love sharing updates about the kittens in our care throughout kitten season, please note they’re not available for adoption until they officially make it to our adoption floor.
We kindly ask that you hold off on inquiring about specific kittens you see on social media. The best (and only!) way to meet or adopt a cat from us is to visit in person during our adoption hours. Start your adoption journey today!
Spay/Neuter Services
The first step to saving kittens is saving their parents! Our Community Cats program performs Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) in our target communities, and our Veterinary Wellness Center (VWC) offers spay/neuter services to cats of all stripes. Learn more about community cats and TNR, or book an appointment at the VWC.
Spotted a Kitten?
We know it’s tempting to scoop up a tiny kitten and rush them to us, but that’s not always best for the kitten, and we may not always be able to take them in. The good news? There is something you can do to help.
Watch this video from Best Friends to learn what to do if you find a kitten outside.
Foster Care
Once kittens arrive in a shelter, they’ve got some growing up to do before they’re ready for adoption! We only have so much space and so many staff members, though. More than ever, we rely on foster homes to help us bottle feed neonate kittens. Learn more about our foster program.
Help Us Care for the Tiniest Lives
Just like human babies, kittens need extra-special care—including a unique diet and specific supplies to help them thrive. Kitten Milk Replacer (KMR), for example, gives them the essential nutrients they need to grow up healthy and strong—and it’s one of the top items on our wishlist.
Want to help? Check out our kitten season wishlist to donate supplies and give vulnerable kittens the best possible start!
