Happy Friday, everyone!

On Fridays, we like to share important information about feral cats and how you can help end their plight through our FERAL FRIDAYS program! Today we’re answering the question, “What is kitten season?” Because yes, kittens do have their own season. It’s the time of year most of them are born, and that time is now upon us.

Each spring you’ll hear cat lovers everywhere announcing the arrival of kitten season. While that may bring up thoughts of fuzzy cuteness, warm snuggles, and love all around, these sentiments are far from the truth. When the weather begins to warm, un-spayed feral cats go into heat, find mating partners, and start giving birth to innumerable unwanted kittens. THIS is the reality of kitten season.

Female feral cats can become pregnant at four months old and give birth to an average litter of 4-6 kittens. (Some litters can be even double this.) That same mother can become pregnant again as early as two months later, and her daughters will also already be fertile at four months! Millions of feral cats live in Los Angeles and Orange Counties; imagine how many unwanted kittens are born every year!

So, what happens to all these kittens? Sadly, many will die soon after birth from abandonment, exposure, disease, starvation, predators, cars, and human cruelty. Those who survive face a short life in the same harsh conditions. Kittens picked up by animal care services nearly always face euthanasia unless, in too-few fortunate cases, a rescue has room to take them in. Rescuers can usually tame feral kittens for adoption between 4-8 weeks of age. Beyond that period their mothers have taught them to be fearful of humans, and their chance of finding a home becomes slim. The average lifespan of a feral cat is only three years.

Want to know how you can help? First and foremost, SPAY & NEUTER YOUR CATS. All intact cats will do their best to find their way to a partner (even tearing through screens). Second, KEEP YOUR CATS INDOORS. Indoor life also protects them from disease, predators, exposure, accidents, and human cruelty. Finally, SUPPORT FERAL FRIDAYS! Our FERAL FRIDAYS program offers FREE spay and neuter surgeries for feral cats! Please help us do our part in reducing feral cat populations and preventing immeasurable suffering. Your donations help us ease the financial burden of those heroes who care and fight for these unfortunate beings every day, and with your help we can make every Friday a FERAL FRIDAY and END kitten season! Please consider donating today! Every amount helps, no matter how small.