Kitten Season Is Upon Us!
Ready or not, here they come!
Spring in Pittsburgh marks the start of Kitten Season. From Spring to Winter, rescues and shelters are overwhelmed with kittens. While adorable, these little ones contribute to the growing overpopulation problem. Every litter born adds to the number of cats in desperate need of homes.
Check out these not-so-fun facts:
- Only 1 in 4 kittens born outdoors will survive their first 6 months.
- The average lifespan for an indoor cat is 15 years, while outdoor or feral cats live only about 3 years.
- 3.4 million cats enter U.S. shelters each year, and approximately 37% are adopted.
- One unspayed queen and her offspring can produce up to 420,000 cats in just 7 years.
- Kitten season intensifies the overpopulation crisis, with thousands of kittens born every spring contributing to the already overwhelmed shelters.
These facts highlight the critical need for spaying, neutering, and adopting to help reduce the cat overpopulation problem.
*Please visiting the National Kitten Coalition for more details on shelter statistics.
SO WHAT CAN YOU DO?
- Spay and Neuter! There are free and low-cost options available for cat owners in Pittsburgh.
- TNVR (Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return): Help trap feral cats in your neighborhood to end the cycle of overpopulation.
- Adopt: Give a forever home to a kitty in need. The rewards are instant.
- Foster: Open your heart and home to temporarily care for a homeless pet until they find their forever home.
- Donate: Contribute money or supplies from wish lists to help lighten the load on rescues.
- Share: Spread the word about the importance of spaying and neutering by sharing this post!
