Foster Families Needed as Animal Services Braces for Kitten Season

Orange County, FL – Orange County Animal Services (OCAS) needs more foster parents as the shelter prepares for the imminent arrival of “Kitten Season.” Kitten Season is experienced by shelters every year and it marks an influx of young kittens being dropped off at OCAS. This usually happens during the warmer months when cats breed more, but “Kitten Season” often lasts from spring to late fall in Florida. During that time, OCAS receives dozens of kittens that are too young to stay in the shelter and need to be placed in foster care immediately.

“We rely heavily on our foster parents and rescue groups to help us care for orphaned kittens when they arrive,” said Diane Summers, Division Manager at Orange County Animal Services. “They’re too young to stay at the shelter if they’re under eight weeks old, as kittens need specialized care we cannot provide here.”

The shelter has more than 300 foster parents, but Summers expects those homes to fill up quickly in the coming months. OCAS particularly needs more foster parents who have experience caring for bottle baby kittens, as they’re already being dropped off at the shelter.

OCAS urges people to wait before acting when they find a litter. Often, the mother is nearby and still caring for the kittens. If you find a litter, experts say to keep an eye on it for 24 hours before intervening to make sure they are truly orphaned.

Young kittens always have the best chance with their mothers and cannot stay at the shelter without them. The shelter has a program called “Wait Til 8,” which helps residents, who find litter, take care of kittens until they are 8 weeks old. This allows the kittens to be out of the shelter until they can be adopted. OCAS will provide free spay and neuter procedures when the kittens are old enough for the procedure.

If you are interested in becoming a foster parent, you can take the online orientation here. OCAS also offers hands-on training for basic kitten care that foster parents will need to know.

The shelter provides supplies and medical care. Foster parents just need to provide a nice home for the kittens. Kittens can need anywhere from 2-8 weeks of foster care depending on their age. You do not need prior experience to be a foster parent; OCAS will provide you with the education and training to successfully participate in the program.

For more information about fostering, kitten season, and what to do if you find kittens, visit http://ocnetpets.com/programservices/kittenseasonwaittil8.aspx

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