Each spring, animal shelters get ready for kitten season, the yearly spike in kitten births caused by rising temperatures and extended daylight. Between May and November, over 50% of feline shelter arrivals are kittens younger than eight weeks old, and unlike adult cats, these infants need constant, hands-on care that already overburdened shelters often lack the capacity or funds to deliver. Fostering offers a rescue option for these at-risk felines, and participating is far more straightforward and manageable than most people assume.
Most shelters and rescue groups provide foster families with training, supplies, veterinary services, and guidance throughout the experience. “Foster to adopt” initiatives also allow households to test pet ownership before making a permanent decision. The only requirement is a readiness to assist.
Since 2002, through its Food, Shelter & Love program, Hill’s Pet Nutrition has aided more than 16 million pet adoptions and contributed over $300 million worth of Hill’s brand pet food to shelters across the country.
Hannah Shaw, known as “Kitten Lady,” an animal rescuer and bestselling author, partnered with Hill’s Pet Nutrition to address several key questions about how fostering and appropriate nutrition can create real change—and how families can get involved at home:
What is ‘kitten season’ and why does this time of year place such heavy strain on shelters?
Kitten season refers to the period when warmer weather and longer daylight hours trigger a dramatic rise in kitten births. Sadly, many of those kittens arrive at local animal shelters that lack the capacity to care for them on their premises.
Many are extremely young and fragile, needing constant attention. That is why foster families are so crucial. By taking kittens into their homes for a few weeks, foster parents deliver the care, nutrition, and social interaction the kittens require until they are ready for adoption—usually at about eight weeks old.
What do kittens need most during those early stages, especially regarding nutrition?
A kitten like Pup, for instance, was only a few hours old when I brought him home. At that point, he required intensive care, including bottle feeding every few hours, warmth, and constant supervision.
Around their second month, kittens become far more energetic, playful, and curious. They also start learning to eat solid foods, an area where foster families can truly make a difference. Foster parents guide kittens through the weaning process, whether by spoon-feeding, hand-feeding, or encouraging independent eating.
It is critical to offer kittens both wet and dry food designed specifically for their developmental stage. Kitten‑specific nutrition supplies the essential nutrients they need to grow, flourish, and establish the foundation for a long, healthy life.
What impact does fostering have, and what is required to become a foster parent?
The impact of fostering is enormous. It gives vulnerable kittens a lifeline, providing the care and support they need to reach adoption age and eventually find loving, permanent homes.
The great news is that you do not need any prior experience to become a foster parent. Local animal shelters and rescue organizations offer training, advice, and continuous support to help you succeed. They will supply the knowledge, resources, and mentorship needed to care for kittens at every stage.
Another important point: fostering does not have to cost you anything. When you foster through a local shelter, they usually cover veterinary care, supplies, and other necessities.
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 nutrition, so there are no out‑of‑pocket food expenses. This allows foster families to concentrate on what truly matters: giving kittens the time, care, and love they need to thrive.
The Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love program is making a remarkable difference in communities nationwide. The program 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, that support extends beyond shelter pets 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
