It’s kitten season. Here’s how to help
It’s kitten season.
That means we’ll see a growing number of kittens during the warmer months, particularly among the feralcat population.
Kitten season is known for starting in the spring and ending in the fall. According to the Wildlife Society, cats can reproduce multiple times a year beginning when they are 6 months old.
There are three types of cats: indoor, free-ranging and feral, according to The Wildlife Society, which works on conservation issues.
The organization says feral cats are not socialized to humans and live completely outdoors. Indoor cats can become feral if released.
The Arizona Fish and Game Department told The Arizona Republic, feral cats are not tracked in the state because they are not wild animals. But the Western Governors’ Association named feral cats as one of the top 50 invasive species in the West.
Many mammals and reptiles, and at least 33 bird species are extinct because of cats, according to The Wildlife Society.
Feral cats also pose harm to humans by transferring diseases like rabies and salmonellosis, according to the organization.
The Animal Defense League of Arizona has partnered with cities across Maricopa County to create trap-neuter-return programs.
The programs, which started in the early 1990s, trap outdoor cats to spay or neuter them and returns them to their original location.
A small part of the cat’s ear is snipped to indicate it has been spayed or neutered.
ADLA President Stephanie NicholsYoung said support is growing for the process.
“I think there is a lot more community acceptance,” Nichols-Young said.
Homeowners associations and other community groups often offer to assist, she said.
A person can contact the organization’s website or hotline for help if feral cats live in their neighborhood. ADLA estimates 300 contacts are made each week.
Animal Defense League Association hotline: 602-265-7729, outdoorcats@adlaz.org
Residents can receive services with a $25 donation. The ADLA has a financial assistance program to help those who cannot afford to make a donation.
Tempe’s agreement with the Animal Defense League of Arizona created a Tempe-specific donation fund for trap, neuter and return programs.
In Tempe, 223 cats were TNR’d, with one returned to owner because it was microchipped.
ADLA believes the program can end the breeding cycle of feral cats and help control the population.
“It’s absolutely the most effective way of reducing the cat population on the street,” Nichols-Young said.
The ADLA believes the programs can help stop behaviors associated with animals that are not spayed or neutered, such as fighting and spraying.
“It is a humane solution to the problem,” Nichols-Young said.
The Wildlife Society, however, believes trap-neuter-return type programs are not effective because they do not help prevent cats from harming native wildlife and people, according to the organization.
The Animal Defense League of Arizona suggests residents to leave kittens alone if found. The mother can be the best chance of survival for the animals and may be away hunting.
If the mother does not come back after eight hours,the kittens will need assistance, the group says.
But animal shelters see a rise in kitten population during the season, which can put a strain on resources.
The ADLA suggests that people care for the kittens until they are 8 weeks old before searching for permanent homes for the animals.
The organization offers kits, free vaccinations and spay/neuter surgery for kittens.
The organization encourages pet owners to microchip their cats and visit Facebook pages and other online resources if their cat is missing.
When capturing cats, the ADLA checks the animals for a microchip. With the help of the organization, multiple cats and owners have reunited.
There have been multiple cases where members of the organization have returned a lost pet to its owner. Sometimes, the last time those owners saw their cats was more than a year ago.
“That is a really rewarding part of what we do,” Nichols-Young said.