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Friend, With kittens across the United States in danger of being killed in shelters this spring and summer, Alley Cat Allies has been hard at work educating shelters and community members to protect young kittens, and championing the programs needed to stop kitten season from becoming a killing season. Between now and the end of summer, many more kittens will be born—and if people don’t know how to act in the best interests of these neonatal kittens, who require intensive round-the-clock care if separated from their mothers, many more will needlessly die. The partnership of caring individuals like you is critical to protecting and improving the lives of cats and kittens everywhere. That’s why we’re sharing the top three things you can do if you find kittens outdoors: 1. LEAVE THEM BE™: If you see kittens alone, their mom—and best possible caregiver—likely isn’t far. Removing them from her care could be deadly. Sometimes, there are circumstances, such as when a kitten is visibly sick or injured, where you may have no choice but to intervene. If so: 2. Don’t take them to a shelter: Most shelters simply can’t give the round-the-clock care unweaned kittens need to thrive, which often results in their deaths. These environments can also introduce diseases that their immune systems aren’t yet equipped to fight. So, what can you do to help kittens survive and thrive this season? Of course, it depends—but there is one key thing you can do to determine the care they need: 3. Figure out their age: It can be tricky to tell, but that’s why Alley Cat Allies offers an At-a-Glance Kitten Progression Guide poster (featuring Darling the kitten!) to help out. By educating ourselves and our communities, we can all help more kittens survive this spring. Please, take a moment to learn more about what to do if you find kittens outdoors and what steps to take to save their lives.
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