Got Kittens? LA County Animal Care and Control Launches Kitten Campaign
LA County Animal Care and Control, in collaboration with the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®), has launched a “Got Kittens?” campaign to help community members determine whether a stray kitten is in need and assist in making informed decisions to provide solutions that support these animals’ ultimate well-being. The ASPCA’s new online tool (ASPCA.org/FoundKittens) helps the public choose the best next steps to take if they find stray kittens outdoors.
As the summer months heat up, there is an increase of vulnerable kittens being born in communities during the annual “kitten season” or feline breeding season. People start to see kittens of varying ages in their backyards, neighborhoods, and communities. Thousands of these stray kittens are brought to shelters across Southern California by concerned residents who think the kittens are abandoned or in need of help. In shelters, kittens have an increased risk of illness due to overcrowding, stress, and their fragile immune systems. Despite best efforts by shelter staff and volunteers, most do not survive.
While it may seem that bringing stray kittens to an animal shelter is the best option, it is better for the kittens to remain with their mother until they are old enough to be adopted rather than unintentionally orphaning them. Or, if the mother is no longer with them, to place them in a foster home where they will receive individual attention.
The “Got Kittens?” campaign asks the community to follow these steps:
1. Determine whether the kitten is in need. Healthy, clean, quiet kittens are generally cared for by their mother, who might be hiding or out getting food if she is not visible. Learn how to tell whether a kitten needs your help by using the ASPCA’s new online tool available in both English and Spanish: ASPCA.org/FoundKittens
2. Sign up to foster kittens at https://animalcare.lacounty.
3. Educate yourself and help spread the word. Visit https://animalcare.lacounty.
4. Support DACC’s efforts to save kittens by making a donation or purchase an item off our kitten care wish list at https://animalcare.lacounty.
“Kittens are the most vulnerable animals we serve, and it is important to provide the best environment and resources for them during this critical period of their lives. We are grateful for the foster volunteers who assist DACC in achieving positive outcomes for the kittens, as well as the Los Angeles County Animal Care Foundation for funding our kitten rescue programs,” said DACC Director Marcia Mayeda.
“When you find kittens outside, it’s crucial to pause and assess how to help these vulnerable animals in a way that matches their unique situation to give them the best chance at survival and avoid overwhelming shelters when it’s not necessary,” said Tina Reddington Fried, Director, Los Angeles Volunteer & Kitten Programs, ASPCA. “It can be tempting to take the kittens home or immediately bring them to a shelter, but some kittens who are with their mother should often be left alone or monitored—as no one can care for a kitten like their own mother.”
More resources about kittens can be found on the DACC website: https://animalcare.lacounty.
