Warmer and longer days mean it’s kitten season!

When spring has sprung, there is more than just pollen in the air. It is the season of new life, and around this time of year there will inevitably be some frisky feline flings taking place.

As the weather starts to get warmer and the days get longer, the fruits of such spring exuberance become evident.

Jan Davis, RSPCA Tasmania CEO, said that ‘kitten season refers to the warmer months of the year, generally from spring to late summer, when cats reach their reproductive prime. Cats can start breeding from 16 weeks and they get pregnant easily. With so many un-desexed fertile cats around, the result is an influx of unwanted kittens.”

It’s vitally important to have your cat desexed to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Research shows that desexed animals actually live longer, are less likely to get certain illnesses (like uterine infections and mammary gland cancer), and experience a reduction in behaviour problems like roaming, aggression and urine marking.

There are many benefits to keeping your cat at home – not least preventing unwanted pregancies. Contained cats are less likely to become lost or injured (like being hit by a car or attacked by another animal), less likely to get into cat fights, and less likely to catch diseases like FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus). Keeping your cat at home also reduces their impact on wildlife from hunting – and increases the time you get to spend cuddling them!

If you find a litter of kittens, first check if they’re warm and healthy-looking. If they are, leave them alone and wait to see if their mum comes back for them, as she may just be away trying to find food. If there is no mum around, don’t delay in getting orphaned kittens the help they need – the quicker they are placed into the care of an experienced foster carer, the better. But remember that cats and kittens are lactose intolerant, so please do not feed them normal cows’ milk.

“Now more than ever is a time to be aware of the many kittens which may soon be born to uncertain futures. For those who consider opening their homes and lives to a cuddly feline friend, the rewards of course, are tenfold,” Ms Davis said.

Not sure whether you want to make the final commitment to owning a cat? Then you may wish to foster one of our cats or kittens. It’s a great way to make a difference to the lives of our feline friends while enjoying their company. You will receive lots of support through our information session, and all food, bedding, toys and litter are provided. Once the kittens have gained enough weight and have completed their vaccination regime, they come back to us for desexing, microchipping and matching with their forever families.