By Suzyn Barron, President of Warwick Valley Humane Society, Inc.
Did you know every year we hope that kitten season will mean a few less kittens than the year before? But, alas, that is yet to be. Kitten season started early this year despite the too cold past winter. Our shelter has admitted 60 kittens thus far and its only still June! When trapping cats for spay or neuter, there always seems to be a litter of kittens that go with the trapping. So between those intakes and the intakes from people who find sick and injured kittens, we got slammed. Taking in two very pregnant young strays resulted in a dozen kittens between them. Each kitten has to receive multiple de-worming medications and repeat vaccinations until adopted at a minimum age of 12 weeks old when they are of weight to be spayed and neutered. If they arrive sick or injured, their adoption age may be affected. Currently we are caring for one kitten with megacolon, 3 kittens with eye ulcers, one kitten with a bad laceration on her hind leg and 10 kittens in foster care because they are too young and require extra feedings. Four newborn kittens were found during a TNR project which need around the clock bottle feedings. Fortunately, after just a few days of this intensive care, we offered them to a nursing mom who readily accepted them. Her kittens were ready to be weaned so we swapped them out so she could raise these newborns.
So, June is Adopt a Cat/Kitten Month and some of the younger kittens will be available for adoption. But sadly, the adults and leftover kittens from last year will be once again overlooked. Two things we have no control over: the kittens from growing while they are waiting for homes and their coloring! Since black is a dominant gene we are overloaded with black kittens. These mini panthers are usually the last considered by most adopters, even if they have the best personalities. I have been tempted to use a non-toxic coloring agent to help them stand out, but I am not quite there yet. Instead, we resort to various color collars to tell them apart. The point here is to choose your next cat by their temperament and qualities rather than by their looks. And, whereas an adult cat’s character is fully formed, a kitten’s is yet to be seen. Recently a potential senior adopter insisted on adopting a young kitten so she could train it. To do what we do not know. Kittens come automatically litter box trained. Beyond that is anyone’s guess what they will choose to learn.
June is National Adopt a Cat Month, also known as National Adopt a Shelter Cat Month, founded in 1974 by American Humane Association as an initiative to promote adoptions of homeless cats especially during kitten season when shelters are overwhelmed and overcrowded. If deciding to add a cat or kitten to your family, mention this column and receive a reduced adoption fee with your approved application, good through the month of July.
“A meow massages the heart.” –Stuart McMillan
Pets of the Week:
Adoption applications are available at wvhumane.org or call 845-986-2473 for more information.
