Help us help more kittens

If you're considering surrendering kittens or a mother with kittens less than 8 weeks of age, please read the information below before bringing them to Animal Humane Society.

Kitten season challenges

AHS receives thousands of kittens each year. Between May and  late October, we start seeing more than 1,000 kittens per month. We call these months “kitten season.”

The kittens surrendered to AHS are often too young for adoption. Kittens less than 8 weeks old typically do not weigh enough to have spay/neuter surgery (a requirement before they become available for adoption). Because of this, they have to go to a volunteer foster home for a week or two. Foster homes are in short supply during the summer and fall, and time animals spend in foster care puts more demand on our resources. Additionally, finding volunteer foster care for moms with kittens is more challenging.

You can help

To minimize time in shelter and the number of young kittens needing foster care, we ask that people consider keeping kittens in their homes until the kittens are at least 8 weeks old. Learn more about caring for kittens and moms with kittens.

If you absolutely cannot keep the kittens, you can surrender them to AHS.

Animal Humane Society veterinarians and staff cannot legally treat or recommend treatment on animals that are owned and have not been surrendered to our organization. If you're having a medical problem with kittens, please contact your veterinarian immediately. If you're unable to provide treatment, you may surrender the kittens to AHS at any time.