Kitten Season at the SPCA: Don’t be a kitten-napper, be a kitten-warrior!

Kitten Season at the SPCA of Winchester, Frederick, and Clarke Counties has begun! A few litters of neo-nates have already arrived, and we’ve been fortunate to place them in wonderful foster homes. It is a busy period for our animal shelter. The flood of infant kittens requires critical care, specialized supplies, and a dedicated team of fosters. Kitten Season is truly a community effort and one that will be especially challenging this year due to COVID-19.

We often receive questions regarding how one can help during this time of the year. The answer is easy, don’t be a kitten-napper! If you find a pile of kittens, your first instinct may be to rescue them, but there is a very good chance mom is out getting food. Observe the litter of kittens. wait to see if mom returns, it’s not unusual for a momma cat to be gone 8 hours. Give mom a chance to come back and nurse her kittens. Try not to hover or do things that may scare mom away. Taking the kittens may cause them to die. Momma Cat is ALWAYS the best option.

If you find kittens, we can offer guidance and support while momma cat nurses, and then you can be a hero – a kitten warrior – and foster the kitties until they are ready for adoption. The SPCA of Winchester, Frederick, and Clarke Counties can provide you with the necessary supplies and support. To learn more about our Kitten Warrior program, email Marie at sheltermanager@winchesterspca.org or call 540-662-8616. To learn more about your local SPCA, go to winchesterspca.org.