Springtime is in the air, and that means pregnant and in-heat cats– and soon: kittens!
Every spring, the Bastrop County Animal Shelter (BCAS) is inundated with kittens. Well-meaning good Samaritans scoop up litters of kittens that they think have been abandoned by the mom and bring them to the shelter. However, in most cases, the mom is still around, either out seeking food or looking for a safer place to raise the kittens.
Because the best place for kittens is with their mom, the shelter is urging the public to not dash in and gather the kittens. Instead, BCAS has created a handy little flowchart to help you make the best decision in the interest of the kittens:
If the kittens are at-risk and need to be cared for, BCAS asks if you, the finder, would be willing to foster them until they are old enough for their shots and the spay/neuter surgery.
To help YOU with this ask, Bastrop C.A.T.S. has put together neonatal kitten kits! If BCAS deems the kittens are healthy enough to be fostered, you will be given a kit for the young kittens that includes:
- Instructions on feeding and care
- Milk replacer formula
- Bottles
- Syringes and nipples
- Mini microwaveable heating pad
- Scale (if you don’t already have one)
- Karo syrup and supplements
With this kit, you are more likely to be successful in caring for the neonatal kittens.
A BCAS volunteer will follow up with you and remind you to schedule an appointment to bring the kittens back to the shelter to prepare them for adoption.
If you would like to help foster neonatal kittens, please contact the Bastrop County Animal Shelter by calling them at (512) 549-5160.
Thank you for keeping community cats’ –and kittens’– best interests at heart!