Recall the scene from the 1942 Disney® Classic Bambi. Spring arrives in the forest and Friend Owl explains to Bambi, Thumper, and Flower that many animals become “twitterpated” this time of year, meaning they fall in love. The three friends laugh at the idea and insist it could never happen to them. Almost immediately, each of them is unexpectedly charmed by a female counterpart. Thumper becomes smitten with a playful rabbit, Flower is bashfully swept away by a sweet skunk, and Bambi meets Faline again and begins to fall for her.
While this might be a cute and endearing scene designed to teach kids about love, it does highlight a reality for many animals, including feral, stray, and community cats. Spring and summer in New Jersey is “Kitten Season” and shelters around the area are inundated with a surge of kitten surrenders as a result of outdoor, unspayed or unneutered cats becoming “twitterpated.”
What is Kitten Season?
Kitten Season in southern New Jersey (and much of the northeast United States) falls somewhere within the range of March through October. As the temperatures rise, so does the cat population. Warmer weather tends to increase breeding activity among cats since many of these cats are no longer seeking shelter from the cold weather.
Unspayed cats can get pregnant as early as 4 months of age and can have, on average, 3 litters of kittens per year. Essentially, kittens can have kittens. This trend will continue until cats and kittens are spayed or neutered. Because of this kitten epidemic, animal shelters and veterinary clinics face an increased demand for kitten care during this time of year. Many of the issues shelters face include finances, supplies, space, and medical care (since there are more animals to take care of), staffing needs, and the need for foster families.
What to Do If You Find Kittens
It is not uncommon during the spring and summer to randomly find litters of kittens, especially if you have stray, feral, or community cats in your area.
When the time comes, mom will find a cozy, safe spot to give birth. Often this could be in your garden, under your deck, or any other place that might provide some shelter. In ideal situations, mom will stay with her kittens until they are about 12 weeks old, but even feline moms need a little break.
Mother cats will often leave their kittens temporarily to find food or safety if necessary. Without mom around, this will likely be the time many people find these surprise litters of kittens in their yard.
It is important that you don’t automatically assume that these kittens are abandoned. If the found kittens appear healthy, they are often still being cared for by mom. Before you scoop the kittens up to bring them to your local shelter, follow the “Wait and Watch” rule.
- Do not move the kittens unless they are in immediate danger
- Keep people and pets away
- Observe quietly from a distance for 4 to 6 hours if kittens appear safe and warm
Mom is naturally cautious, so too much noise or activity will keep her away. During the waiting period, signs of active care include:
- Kittens are quiet most of the time
- They look clean and tucked together
- Their bellies appear round after nursing
- The nest area seems intentionally chosen and sheltered
- You see the mother return briefly to nurse, groom, or move them
Mother cats often visit quickly and quietly, then leave again. Kittens raised by their mother have the best chance at healthy development. She provides:
- Perfect nutrition through nursing
- Warmth and comfort
- Grooming and stimulation to help them eliminate waste
- Protection
- Early social learning
Human care can save kitten lives when necessary, but mother cat care is usually best when available.
How to Tell if Kittens Need Immediate Help
It is possible that you may need to stop the waiting period early or skip it altogether for the wellbeing of the kittens. You should collect the kittens and bring them to your local animal shelter if you observe any of the following:
- Crying continuously for hours
- Cold to the touch
- Weak or lethargic
- Injured
- Covered in fleas or maggots
- Thin or dehydrated
- In immediate danger
- Mother confirmed deceased or missing
If you conclude that the kittens need your help, it is important to act immediately. Fill a box or clean pet carrier with warm, clean bedding and carefully place the kittens inside, then bring them to your local animal shelter. Animal Welfare Association has a dedicated rehoming specialist on staff. You can call 856-424-2288 x112 for additional information, but you do not need an appointment to bring kittens in for safe care.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
It is natural to want to act quickly when fragile lives are in your care, but acting too quickly can have negative impacts. When dealing with found kittens, you want to avoid the following:
- Taking kittens too quickly
- Feeding cow’s milk – kitten bellies cannot digest it properly
- Excessive handling
- Waiting too long in emergencies
If you are unsure what to do, please give us a call.
How the Community Can Help During Kitten Season
Kitten Season is likely never going to go away, but with enough community support, we can begin to change what the future looks like.
Spay and Neuter - The most important way to prevent unwanted litters is through spay and neuter. It is important that even owned pets are sterilized. This prevents unwanted pregnancies in the event that your cat gets out of the house. Even male cats, who are at no risk of becoming pregnant themselves, can have a huge impact on kitten populations if they were to encounter a group of unspayed female cats.
Support TNR - Trap, Neuter, and Return involves humanely trapping feral, stray, or community cats and bringing them to be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and ear-tipped at a trusted source before being returned to their outdoor home to live out the rest of their lives in their community without adding more kittens into the mix. Cats receive an ear tip to indicate at a glance that they have already received their sterilization surgery and can be released.
Become a Foster Family – Kittens will continue to arrive at the shelters in large numbers, which overwhelms shelter resources. Foster families are key to providing lifesaving care for all of the animals who come through our doors. Become a foster family and be rewarded with endless kitten cuddles, amazing success stories, and possibly a new family member who was only supposed to stay temporarily but secured a spot in your home.
Make a Donation – Shelters always need supplies, but especially during kitten season, when the supplies needed tend to be more specific. Make a monetary donation that allows the shelter to purchase the exact items needed at that specific time. Supplies are also always helpful and appreciated. You can also make a donation to name a kitten and help give that kitten its first true identity.
Volunteer – Volunteers are the backbone of everything we do at Animal Welfare Association. Volunteers can help in a variety of ways, including providing enrichment and socialization for the cats, helping wake up cats from surgery at TNR MASH clinics, and more!
Adopt – We will soon be running out of space for all of the cats and kittens that come through our doors. Check out our website daily for all of the new additions or come in to visit. We can help pair you with your new furry best friend. It’s a win-win. You find a new family member, and space is opened up in the shelter for other cats in need.
Kitten Season Continues
Just like in Bambi, when spring arrives and the forest becomes “twitterpated,” life outside doesn’t stop for a moment of explanation. It simply moves with instinct, timing, and nature’s rhythm. The same is true for the kittens we find in our yards and gardens each season. What may look like abandonment is often a mother doing exactly what nature has taught her to do: survive, protect, and return when it is safe.
Kitten Season reminds us that we are part of that same rhythm too. With a little patience, a little knowledge, and a lot of compassion, we can make sure those tiny lives get exactly what they need in the moment they need it most.
