It’s kitten season in the Mid-South, and the Humane Society is inundated as concerned citizens bring tiny, nursing kittens to the shelter. While this seems right, there are quite a few reasons why it’s best to not intervene:
If you find community kittens on your property or in your neighborhood that appear healthy, do not intervene. Even if you see kittens alone, their mother is likely nearby.
Mother cats are a kitten’s best caregiver. Removing a nursing kitten from its mother decreases its likelihood of survival.
Bringing nursing kittens to local shelters can endanger their health by exposing them to communicable animal diseases that their immune systems are not ready to fight. It can also contribute to shelter and foster overcrowding.
Community kittens can thrive in their outdoor home, and the mother cat has likely chosen an ideal space to raise her kittens, so while it might feel wrong, there is no need to intervene if the kittens appear healthy.
If you want to support abandoned kittens and animals, volunteer to foster. We consistently need care and housing support from generous community members.
If you want to support your community cats, please contact your local shelter for options regarding trap-neuter-return to help end the cycle of unwanted cats and kittens.
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Donating to the Humane Society is a meaningful way to make a positive impact on the lives of countless animals. Your generous contributions provide vital support for our mission to rescue, rehabilitate, and find loving homes for abandoned and neglected animals.
