OAKLAND — Cat Town started the innovative Forgotten Kitten Project to rescue older kittens from shelter cages — the hissy, bolty ones who need specialized attention to help them learn to trust humans.
But what can be done to keep kittens from being forgotten in the first place? The answer comes down to early intervention. And that's what Cat Town is doing a bit more of this year, marshalling resources to intervene where the need is the greatest.
One of the young kittens new to Cat Town and soon to be up for adoption. Photo by Cathy Niland.
"Kitten season," is usually the summer months each year where litters of homeless and often orphaned kittens overwhelm shelters and exhaust community resources. Cat Town's model of rescuing the most needy — sick, stressed and shy cats — includes taking in older kittens at risk of euthanasia. Recognizing the acute need with younger cats, Cat Town was able to mobilize resources at the start of this kitten season. That meant taking in those still in that optimal window of socialization to help ensure they don't become forgotten.
A once homeless, possibly feral, mama cat and her litter spent time in one of our Studios while the two little ones were socialized by staff and volunteers. Two other litters of kittens, now age 2 and 3 months, are currently available for adoption in pairs. And we continue to work with the "feral" mom to measure her potential for socialization.
Like all of our rescue efforts, that requires our community's support: foster parents willing to bring litters of kittens into their homes, volunteers dedicated to helping socialize the ones housed at Cat Town, and, of course, the continued financial support to give them the health and routine care they need.
Shelter kittens are ready and waiting for foster parents like you! Photo by Cathy Niland.
Cat Town's mission of giving every cat a loving home will always mean intervening for forgotten kittens, those around 4 months and older and in need of socialization. But thanks to our community's support, we were able to intervene even sooner.
Whether you foster kittens through the Oakland shelter or provide a temporary home to one of Cat Town's older cats, know that we can't do our work without you! Please email info@cattownoakland.org to learn more about fostering.
Cat Town is working to help other rescues across the country replicate our work with Forgotten Kittens thanks to a generous grant from Maddie’s Fund. First visit to the Cat Town blog? Learn more about our Forgotten Kitten Project in our regular Kitten Wire dispatches.
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