Each spring, animal shelters get ready for kitten season—the yearly spike in kitten births caused by warmer weather and extended daylight. From May through November, over half of all felines entering shelters are under eight weeks old. Unlike adult cats, these infants demand constant, round-the-clock attention, something already stretched facilities often lack the time or supplies to offer. Fostering steps in as a rescue option for these at-risk animals, and it’s far simpler and more approachable to get involved with than many realize.
Most shelters and rescue groups provide fosters with instruction, materials, veterinary treatment, and continuous guidance. “Foster to adopt” initiatives also let families experiment with pet ownership before making a permanent choice. The only requirement is a readiness to lend a hand.
Since 2002, Hill’s Pet Nutrition has—through its Food, Shelter & Love program—backed over 16 million pet adoptions and given more than $300 million in Hill’s brand pet food to shelters across the country.
Hannah Shaw—known as “Kitten Lady,” an animal rescuer and bestselling author—joined forces with Hill’s Pet Nutrition to address key questions about how fostering and proper nutrition can create genuine change, and how families at home can assist:
What is ‘kitten season’ and why does this time of year put so much pressure on shelters?
Kitten season refers to the period when higher temperatures and longer days cause a sharp rise in kitten births. Sadly, many of these kittens end up in local animal shelters that often lack the capacity to care for them within their facilities.
A large number arrive extremely young and fragile, needing incessant supervision. That is where foster families become crucial. By taking kittens into their homes for a short period—usually a few weeks—foster parents supply the attention, nourishment, and socialization they require until they become eligible for adoption, generally around eight weeks old.
What do kittens need most in those early stages of life, especially when it comes to nutrition?
Consider a kitten like Pup—only a few hours old when I brought him home. At that stage, he demanded intensive care: bottle feeding every few hours, warmth, and constant monitoring.
Once kittens enter their second month, they grow far more active, energetic, and curious. They also start learning to eat solid food, and here foster families can have a huge impact. Foster parents guide kittens through the weaning process—whether by spoon-feeding, hand-feeding, or encouraging independent eating.
Introducing both wet and dry food formulated for their developmental stage is essential. Kitten-specific nutrition delivers the vital nutrients needed for growth, health, and establishing the groundwork for a long, vigorous life.
What impact does fostering have, and what does it take to become a foster parent?
The influence of fostering is immense. It provides vulnerable kittens a lifeline, offering the care and backing they require to reach adoption age and ultimately find loving, permanent homes.
The encouraging news is that no prior experience is needed to become a foster parent. Local animal shelters and rescue organizations supply training, advice, and ongoing support to help you flourish. They provide the knowledge, materials, and mentorship necessary to care for kittens at every stage.
Another key point: fostering doesn’t need to cost you anything. When you foster through a local shelter, they usually cover veterinary care, supplies, and other essentials.
How are programs like Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love supporting shelters and helping more pets find homes?
If you foster through a Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love partner shelter, you’ll also get premium kitten nutrition, meaning no out-of-pocket expenses for food. This allows foster families to concentrate on what truly matters: giving kittens the time, attention, and affection they need to thrive.
The Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love program is making a remarkable difference in communities nationwide. The initiative has facilitated more than 16 million pet adoptions and contributed over $300 million worth of Hill’s brand pet foods to shelters across the country.
Importantly, this support reaches beyond shelter walls into foster homes. Through participating shelters, foster families receive Hill’s Science Diet kitten wet and dry food, ensuring kittens get complete and balanced nutrition during the critical weaning stage and throughout their growth.
Having that nutritional support removes a major hurdle for foster parents and helps position kittens for a healthy future.
To locate a participating shelter near you and discover more about fostering, go to HillsPet.com/Shelter.
About YourUpdateTV:
YourUpdateTV is a property of D S Simon Media. The video included and released was part of a media tour produced by D S Simon Media on behalf of Hill’s Pet Nutrition.
Michael O’Donnell
D S Simon Media
212-736-2727
modonnell@dssimon.com
A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b92de19c-23d0-41a0-97c1-c23bb4fc8c50
