Each spring, animal shelters get ready for kitten season—the yearly spike in kitten births caused by rising temperatures and extended daylight hours. From May through November, more than half of the felines entering shelters are kittens under eight weeks old. Unlike adult cats, these newborns demand continuous, hands-on care that resource-strapped shelters often cannot provide on their own. Fostering offers a critical rescue option for these fragile animals, and it’s far more manageable and accessible to join than many realize.
The majority of shelters and rescue groups supply foster volunteers with training, necessary supplies, veterinary care, and mentorship throughout the process. “Foster to adopt” programs also allow families to experience pet ownership temporarily before making a long-term commitment. All that’s required is a desire to lend a hand.
Since 2002, Hill’s Pet Nutrition has contributed over $300 million worth of its brand pet food to shelters nationwide and facilitated more than 16 million pet adoptions through its Food, Shelter & Love program.
Hannah Shaw—known as “Kitten Lady,” an animal rescuer and bestselling author—partnered with Hill’s Pet Nutrition to address essential questions about how fostering together with proper nutrition can create meaningful change, and how families can get involved at home:
What is ‘kitten season’ and why does this time of year put so much pressure on shelters?
Kitten season refers to the period when warmer weather and longer days cause a dramatic increase in kitten births. Unfortunately, many of these kittens wind up in local animal shelters that lack the capacity to care for them in-house.
Many are extremely young and fragile, requiring nonstop supervision. This is why foster families are so vital. By taking kittens into their homes for a few weeks, foster parents supply the care, nourishment, and social interaction they need until they reach adoption age—usually around eight weeks old.
What do kittens need most in those early stages of life, especially when it comes to nutrition?
A kitten like Pup, for example, was only a few hours old when I brought him home. At that point, he needed intensive care, including bottle feeding every few hours, warmth, and constant attention.
When kittens reach their second month, they grow much more playful, energetic, and curious. They also start learning to eat solid food, and foster families can make a huge difference here. Foster parents assist kittens through the weaning process—whether by spoon-feeding, hand-feeding, or encouraging independent eating.
It’s critical to offer kittens both wet and dry food designed specifically for their growth stage. Kitten-specific nutrition supplies the essential nutrients they need to develop, prosper, and build a strong foundation for a long, healthy life.
What impact does fostering have, and what does it take to become a foster parent?
The effect of fostering is enormous. It gives vulnerable kittens a lifeline, offering the care and support they need to survive until they’re old enough for adoption and eventually find permanent, loving homes.
The encouraging news is that no prior experience is necessary to become a foster parent. Local animal shelters and rescue organizations provide training, guidance, and ongoing support to help you succeed. They equip you with the knowledge, resources, and mentorship needed to care for kittens every step of the way.
Another key point: fostering does not have to cost you anything. When you foster through a local shelter, they typically cover veterinary care, supplies, and other essentials.
How are programs like Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love supporting shelters and helping more pets find homes?
When you foster through a Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love partner shelter, you also receive high-quality kitten food, so there are no out-of-pocket expenses for nutrition. This allows foster families to concentrate on what matters most: giving kittens the time, care, and affection they need to thrive.
The Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love program is making a remarkable difference in communities nationwide. The initiative has supported more than 16 million pet adoptions and donated over $300 million worth of Hill’s brand pet foods to shelters across the country.
Importantly, this support reaches beyond shelter walls and into foster homes as well. Through participating shelters, foster families receive Hill’s Science Diet kitten wet and dry food, ensuring kittens get the complete and balanced nutrition they need during the critical weaning stage and throughout their development.
Having access to that nutritional support removes a major burden for foster parents and helps set kittens up for a healthy future.
To find a participating shelter near you and learn more about fostering, visit 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 that was 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
