Animal shelters often rely on foster parents to take
care of young kittens until they are old enough to be adopted.
And where these programs result in a lower
intake of young kittens, there's good reason to think they're reducing the overall number of community cats.
Without this nursery, its donors, and its caregivers» round - the - clock efforts,
many of these young kittens would be needlessly euthanized.
McMillan explained that with the duration of pregnancy being approximately two months, kittens are born in large numbers around the beginning of summer, with large
influxes of young kittens into shelters between May and July.
Most people don't encourage free feeding of cats (or other pets) because of potential problems with obesity (one of the most common nutritional diseases seen in cats), but in the
case of young kittens this should not be a problem.
While foster homes are still integral to the
raising of young kittens, Renee says having the nursery provides the ability to save more kittens than through foster homes alone.
One dramatic example that we've witnessed is the 18 percent drop in the
number of young kittens entering the city's shelter system over the past two years — a clear indication of success.
While ringworm in cats is among the most common skin conditions in cats, it tends to affect the
health of young kittens, senior cats, and those cats with compromised immune systems.
During kitten season, March through October in LA, the Nursery operates around the clock as staff and volunteers care for several
litters of young kittens.
Policies regarding spay /
neuter of young kittens are endorsed by the American Humane Association, American Veterinary Medical Association, SPAY / USA, American Animal Hospital Association, the Winn Feline Foundation, CFA and many other animal organizations.
According to Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, «the degree of virus exposure sufficient to infect 100 %
of young kittens will infect only 30 % or fewer adults.»