No kitten’: Orange County shelter braces for kitten season, influx of baby animals

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The time is meow.

Orange County Animal Services is bracing for kitten season. Shelter officials said it’s the time of year when cats most frequently breed, leading to increased intakes of pregnant cats, nursing litters and fragile, orphaned babies.

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“This is the most trying time of year for shelter staff, rescuers and volunteers,” said Diane Summers, manager for Orange County Animal Services. “Some days we receive dozens of kittens and, depending on their individual needs, it’s not always possible to find a caretaker willing and able to take them in. We need all hands on deck in order to match the rate at which these pets are arriving.”

If you come across kittens, you’re asked, if possible, to pause before immediately bringing them to the shelter.

Photos: Kitten season looms at Orange County Animal Services

“While the immediate response may be to run those kittens right into the shelter, we’re asking our residents to hold off and utilize their best judgment,” Summers said.

Depending on the situation, shelter officials said it may be best to leave the kittens so their parent can return to care for them. You can consult the document below for guidance.

Read: 8-week-old kitten rescued after getting stuck in frame of truck

For kittens at-risk that do need to come to the shelter for care, Animal Services offers the “Wait Til 8″ program, which provides basic supplies to finders and encourages them to continue caring for the babies if they can. As part of the program, the shelter provides supplies and equips finders with information and resources so they can provide for the kittens.

In situations the finder cannot care for the kittens and they’re in need of placement, shelter officials said it relies to its foster care program.

For more information on what to do if you find a kitten, how you can help foster animals, and how to adopt, click here.

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Kittens at OCAS The shelter said it’s the time of year where cats most frequently breed, leading to an increase in intakes of pregnant cats, nursing litters and fragile, orphaned babies. (Orange County Animal Services)

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