By Jane Koska
June is the height of kitten season. Because more cats are breeding at this time of year, the nationwide influx of tens of thousands of adorable cats can put a serious strain on animal shelters/rescue organizations, which take in more than two million cats each year in the U.S. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) chose June for Adopt a Shelter Cat Month to bring awareness to this and its effect on shelters, which may run short on funds, space, food, and other supplies.
But why there are so many kittens? First, because cats are biologically suited to producing many offspring, and second, because there are millions of free-roaming, unowned cats in the U.S. that haven’t been spayed or neutered.
Here are a few facts that help explain cat reproductive biology. Cats can become pregnant as soon as they reach sexual maturity, around five to six months old. Estrus, or “heat,” is the time when unspayed female cats are fertile. Cats’ estrous cycles repeat every two to three weeks except during pregnancy. A female cat can come into estrus – and become pregnant with a new litter – within a few weeks of giving birth, even if she’s nursing. Since the average gestation period in cats is 63-65 days, or about nine weeks, cats can have multiple litters in a year, with an average litter size of four to six.
Estimates have been made of how many kittens a cat might have in her lifetime – perhaps more than 100 – and how many kittens she and her female offspring might have –as high as 4,000 to 5,000. These estimates assume the mama cats are healthy and well-fed, and don’t account for variation in number of litters, kittens per litter, and number of years the females reproduce.
While pet cats allowed outside by their owners do contribute to the kitten population explosion, most adoptable kittens in shelters are born to the tens of millions of free-roaming cats in the U.S. Unowned cats living outdoors include abandoned pets and strays who have lived with people. As adults, these cats are often comfortable enough with humans to be adopted. Feral cats have never been socialized to humans; they prefer to live independently in groups/colonies. Many adult feral cats are unlikely to adjust to people enough to become house pets. However, feral kittens can be socialized if the process is started early enough.
Organizations including the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) call all unowned cats living outside “community cats”, whether or not the cats are interested in human interaction. AWLA supports trap-neuter-release (TNR) as a humane way to help community cats coexist with humans. TNR is a commonly used term, but many programs, including AWLA’s, are trap-neuter-vaccinate-release (TNVR), because providing basic vaccinations helps community cats have healthier lives.
In most TNR programs, community cats are humanely trapped, spayed/ neutered, vaccinated, and then returned to their original location after recovery. Cats who’ve been through TNR are also “ear-tipped:” had a tiny bit of their left ear surgically removed under anesthesia. Ear-tipping is a universally-recognized sign that a cat has already been through TNR and doesn’t need additional intervention.
Because only spayed/neutered cats are returned to the community, TNR programs help reduce the population of unowned community cats over time. Also, spayed/neutered and vaccinated community cats have healthier and safer lives. Females don’t have to experience the physiological stress of repeated pregnancies. Vaccinations help reduce disease in the population. Cats become better, less territorial, neighbors.
Participating in AWLA’s Community Cats program is open to anyone in Alexandria who wants to help their neighborhood cats. But not everyone can participate in a TNR program, and not everyone can adopt a shelter cat or kitten this June. But there are lots of other ways to help cats, especially during Adopt a Shelter Cat Month, but also year-round.
First, make sure your female cat doesn’t become a mom – have her spayed. Keep your male cat from becoming a dad – have him neutered. Spay/neuter is the only permanent, 100-percent effective method of birth control. For pet cats allowed outdoors, it also reduces their urge to roam and decreases their risk of disease, injury, and death.
If you’re not ready to adopt, you can foster from a local rescue or shelter. You get to see what it’s like to have a cat in the house, and the cat gets to experience a loving home. By ensuring cats/kittens are socialized, you’ll help them make a successful transition to forever homes.
Shelters and rescue groups always welcome monetary donations that they can put toward veterinary care and needed supplies. If you’d like to make a material donation, check with your local facilities for their specific needs before you go shopping. The shelter may have a list on their website or a link to a wish list at an online retailer.
Another way to help is to give your time. Shelters and rescues rely on volunteers to accomplish their missions – they are almost always looking for more help. Bonus – you get to see adorable cats and kittens every time you volunteer!
Finally, you can help shelters and rescue facilities through social media. Follow your local shelters/rescue organizations and share their content/ information. You can help adoptable cats get the visibility they need to find their forever homes and encourage more people to help shelters by donating or volunteering.
About the Author: Jane Koska is a writer and editor. Her home is ruled by two young rescue cats whose mom was an Alexandria community cat. They’re furry, funny proof that with patience and proper socialization, kittens born to outdoor cats make happy, affectionate companions.
Resources:
How to Help during Adopt a Shelter Cat Month – Ideas from ASPCA
Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) – Community resource and animal shelter
King Street Cats – Alexandria’s all-volunteer, cats-only, no-kill rescue facility
Community Cats in Alexandria – How to help community cats, including TNR, from AWLA
What Is a Community Cat? – Basic information and links to learn more from Best Friends Animal Society
Alley Cat Allies – Non-profit promoting cat advocacy, TNR programs, spay/neuter programs
Outdoor Cats FAQ – Information from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)
Top Reasons to Adopt a Pet Rather than Buy – Information from Best Friends Animal Society