It’s rained so hard this year that it’s even showering kittens.
Gearing up for another anticipated busy kitten season, the nonprofit San Diego Humane Society, as usual, is supporting the influx of new felines by hosting a virtual ‘kitten shower.’
The month-long spring shower involves community members donating essential items – kitten formula, bottles, heating pads, scales, and blankets – from the organization’s online baby registries, conveniently hosted by Amazon, Target, and Walmart at sdhumane.org.
Last year, SDHS’ kitten nursery admitted 10,452 kittens. This year, due to ultra-rainy weather and the ongoing effects of reduced spay/neuter surgeries throughout San Diego County during the pandemic, similar or higher kitten numbers are expected. “We tend to see more kittens after a rainy winter, as lush outdoor areas create thriving ecosystems,” said Jackie Noble, senior director of behavior, nursery, and foster at SDHS. “During rainy days we see an uptick in kittens coming in, likely due to mother cats relocating their young to seek shelter and a greater community inclination to rescue kittens when the weather is bad.”
Noting that caring for orphaned kittens requires significant resources, Noble pointed out these especially vulnerable animals often have nowhere to turn. “Supporting the virtual kitten shower ensures the kittens in our care have everything they need to grow healthy and ready for loving homes,” she said adding, “Donated items are delivered directly to SDHS, aiding in providing lifesaving care.”
Due to San Diego’s year-round mostly pleasant weather, Noble noted that kitten season too lasts longer. “Cat breeding is linked to daylight,” Noble said. “So more daylight translates into more cats breeding and more kittens. As long as our days are bright and long – it will be kitten season, starting now through September or October. Of course, for us, the busiest time for kitten seasons are the spring and summer months.”
In 2009, SDHS opened the country’s first around-the-clock kitten nursery, now known as the Jim Lester Kitten Nursery & Foster Center. “When we started our kitten nursing program in 2009, kittens were the most euthanized animals in San Diego, there just weren’t enough people to care for them,” Noble said pointing out kittens admitted under 4 weeks old “have to be fed around the clock.”
Kitten nurseries at SDHS campuses contribute to the organization’s commitment to stay at zero euthanasia of healthy or treatable shelter animals in San Diego County.
Noble noted the goal now is to “save those kittens at risk of euthanasia.” The effort has been successful as SDHS’ kitten nursery is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year.
Today, SDHS shares best practices for kitten care nationwide, engaging trained foster volunteers to provide 24-hour care in their own homes, as well as offering daycare space for fosters who need help caring for kittens during the day.
The way the kitten shower operates, in effect now through March 31, is that participants first register, much like a baby shower. “We created Amazon, Target, and Walmart registries, and the public can purchase anything needed from them like kitten formula, which we go through really quickly,” Noble said adding, “We also need things like heating pads to help keep kittens warm, food bowls and nutritional supplements the kittens need. There are all different prices for the kitten wish list.”
San Diego Humane Society’s scope of social responsibility goes beyond adopting animals. The nonprofit offers programs that strengthen the human-animal bond, prevent cruelty and neglect, provide medical care, educate the community, and serve as a safety net for all pet families. Serving San Diego County since 1880, the San Diego Humane Society has campuses in El Cajon, Escondido, Oceanside, Ramona, and San Diego. For more information, visit sdhumane.org.
KITTEN SHOWER
Through March 31, the kitten shower involves community members donating essential items – formula, bottles, heating pads, scales, and blankets – from the online baby registries, hosted by Amazon, Target, and Walmart at sdhumane.org/programs/kitten-nursery/kitten-shower.html.
