SPCA Centres around New Zealand see an early start to kitten season

Squeaks and meeps are beginning to be heard in SPCA Centres all around the country as kitten season begins in earnest. The arrival of hundreds of hungry mouths to feed means many foster homes are urgently needed.

“For anybody who has been on the fence about fostering, we’d greatly appreciate you signing up,” says SPCA CEO Todd Westwood. “Perhaps you work from home, you’re retired, or just have a bit of extra time that you could spend with a vulnerable cat or kitten.”

“With so many kittens expected over the coming months, it’s critical that we have space in our Centres to be able to take in more animals. We really rely on our foster network to provide short-term care.”

SPCA provides everything that foster carers need, including food, bedding, toys, and medicine if required.

Kittens under six weeks of age require around-the-clock care, but older kittens and cats are easier to manage.

“These animals deserve to have a good start in life, and we’ll take any help that we can get to ensure that they’re given the best chance,” says Mr Westwood.

SPCA had a total of 14,669 kittens come through its Centres last financial year, with tabbies being by far the most common kitten colour. A total of 7,115 of them spent valuable time in foster care.

This year, Centres are beginning their counts for the season – which include a few early arrivals from Kerikeri and Whanganui.

With kittens typically arriving around September, our Kerikeri Centre was surprised to receive two neonates and their mother on 18 July.

Saved by firefighters at an address fully engulfed in flames, the felines were brought into SPCA after their rescue. Named Caleb and Cassie, they’ve been spending time growing strong in our care, and are now seven weeks old!

“I’m weaning the babies off mum now,” Centre Manager Juanita Tana tells us. “Both babies are healthy, cute little munchkins, and their mama is also lovely and smoochy.”

Juanita also notes that the kittens’ mother, Coco, is suspected of already being pregnant again – she came to us with a slightly round tummy, which has now grown bigger. It’s a stark reminder of why desexing is crucial for animal welfare, to ensure cats like her can live full, happy lives without becoming trapped in an endless cycle of reproduction.

Our Whanganui Centre also saw an early start to their kitten season, with a surrendered litter arriving in August. A member of the public had been looking after the mother cat, but the cat’s previous owner never returned for her – so they made their way to SPCA. Mum and babies are currently spending time in foster care with one of the Centre’s amazing fosterers and are doing well.

From Whanganui Centre Manager Francie Flis: “Last year’s kitten season was exceptionally busy and extended, and with the early arrivals this year, we anticipate a similar challenge. We’re so grateful for our dedicated foster families who provide loving homes for these vulnerable animals, but we need even more fosterers to expand our reach and help more animals in need.”

Fostering offers the rewards of nurturing and the joy of cuteness, without the long-term commitment adoption brings. It’s a vital and all-important donation of time, space, and care that gives kittens a stable start in life.

“Not everyone can adopt, not everyone can bake cupcakes for our fundraiser, but if you can share your home with some kittens for a few weeks, that’s worth a lot to our Centres and our animals,” Mr. Westwood says.

“And please – if you have a cat, make sure it’s desexed to help address the over-population crisis of unwanted litters.”

You can learn more about fostering with SPCA here. If you’ve ever considered opening your heart and homeas a foster carer, kitten season is a great time to get started – you’ll be doing an incredible thing for so many vulnerable animals.