It's raining cats and more cats throughout Los Angeles and Orange County as Southern California makes its way through kitten season.
The unexpected influx of felines has left shelters short on cat supplies and kitty caregivers. Shelter officials are reaching out to the community to foster kittens until they are ready for adoption, which may be when the kitties turn eight weeks old, or once they reach a weight of two pounds.
Kitten season in Southern California typically begins in April and lasts until October, said Shelmarie Main, the volunteer coordinator at Orange County Animal Care. She said the shelter is already "desperately" low on supplies to care for the still-incoming felines.
The OC Animal Care nursery has about 600 underage kittens, Jessica Novillo, the community outreach team manager said. She said it is better to foster the kittens because it allows them to socialize and learn to interact with people.
Cat-loving Angelenos are also being called on to foster kittens.
The Los Angeles Animal Services said its centers took in 7,002 cats and kittens in May and June. By the end of June, their yearly kitten intake was up 20%.
"Our amazing foster volunteers provide a place for kittens to stay and give them the care they need to thrive," said Brenda Barnette, the LA Animal Services general manager. "By opening your home to an animal in need, you are preparing a pet for adoption into a home of their own as well as directly saving the lives of animals in our crowded centers."
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Newborn kittens require a lot of attention, but anyone can learn to care for one, Novillo said. Kittens need to be fed every two hours. They cannot regulate their own body temperature and need blankets and heating pads. Young felines also need to be stimulated to relieve themselves.
Novillos said the community can also help by donating kitten supplies such as milk, heating pads, blankets and towels.
OC Animal Care recently launched the Wait, Watch, Win campaign that advises people to watch street kittens from a safe distance and only bring them into the shelter if the mom does not appear within six hours or if the kittens are in danger.
To foster a kitten, you can print an application from their website or visit an LA City Animal Services Center.
To foster a kitten at OC Animal Care, visit their website for more information.
