09/29/2026
IT'S RAINING KITTENS
You all have maybe been wondering what we've been up to lately. Well, the answer is lots and our volunteer group has changed a bit too. We lost a wonderful neonate foster to a move to TX and another is on maternity leave. So it's been "double shifts" due to an extremely bountiful kitten season. I don't say that with joy, but rather sadness and frustration at the sheer volume of requests we get and the numbers taken into custody.
While we struggle to keep things moving smoothly, we focus as much time, and resources as possible, on prevention.
We've trapped more in the last few months than we have in quite awhile. Helping people who WANT help and are asking for it help and willing to assist is a full circle opportunity. We've met some wonderful people in the process.
We try to never turn away a request for alter assistance...be it TNR, a farm colony, or a pet. We just recently started referring pet alters to the Pet Wellness Veterinary Hospital of Hanson Family Foundation and their SNIP program so we can save vet spots for larger projects.
The sad truth is there's not nearly enough lower cost alter resources for owners.
Rescue is not a race, but a journey. There is a destination we should be trying to reach. The goals we set, and the actions we take, should be supportive of that destination. Are we fixing enough to minimize intakes? That's our priority. Sadly it's not happening, but without our current efforts, I hate to think of the alternative.
Since July 7 here are some of our numbers:
Intakes are at 62: 12 mothers from this # were spayed and 5 intakes were random singles with no known family whereabouts.
Adoptions 36
Non-Foster Alters:
80 TNR or otherwise trapped & returned cats
32 Alter Assists for owned house pets.
That's 112 alters outside of cat/kittens in The Kitten League's care.
99% of our adopted kitties are altered prior to adoption.
However, our intake to adoption ratio isn't good enough. More coming in than going out hurts. The fact that nearly 90% of incoming litters' mothers have been spayed is what we'll focus on.
We can't stop the owner surrender requests, but we can affect the incoming kitten numbers. Spay assists, spay returns, and spay aborts MUST be more of a priority within rescues. Allowing kittens to die within rescue due overcrowding, lack of funds, or capabilities, is not a valiant effort; it's failure. Losses occur but rescues have limits and adhering to what's reasonable for your volunteer base, as well as educational level, should be prioritized.
To never have drawn a breath is far kinder than drawing a last breath without mercy.
I don't think most of the public understands the number of requests for help we receive daily. The demands of kitten care emotionally, financially, and to care for and properly vet until adoption. What is seen from adoption posts, available kitty posters, and the success stories is the goal of a hard walked journey. The tears to get there, never seen.
We need to thank those that have donated supplies, alter funds, and supported our fundraisers...it takes a village to keep the ball rolling in the right direction.
*If you're feeding cats, they're yours, fix them.
*Kittens are not fun when they're dying.
*Giving away kittens just spreads the problem.
*Don't wait until you have kittens to call for help, you know how reproduction works!
*Fixed cats are healthier, happier, and cheaper!
These are two recent bottle intakes.
