JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Humane Society is asking the community for help saving the lives of underage kittens after taking in 1,096 so far this year.
The shelter said people can help by serving as temporary foster parents, bringing kittens into their homes and caring for them until they are 8 weeks old. The society provides all medical care, food and supplies. When kittens reach the appropriate age and weight, they return to the shelter for spay/neuter surgery and adoption.
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Foster families care for kittens of all ages, the society said. Some are too young to eat on their own and require feedings every few hours. Others can eat independently but need human socialization. Occasionally, litters arrive with their mother; foster homes provide a safe place for her to raise them with minimal intervention.
Generally, younger kittens require more supervision and around-the-clock care. Older kittens usually don’t need constant attention but still benefit from the comfort of a home rather than a shelter environment until they are adoptable.
The society recommends that people who are thinking about adopting also consider fostering. Foster families can choose their preferred kitten from a litter when the animals are old enough, and the shelter waives the initial adoption fee for foster families.
“This is our busiest time of year for kittens, and it isn’t going to slow down any time soon,” Lawrence Nicolas, CEO of the Jacksonville Humane Society said. “However, there is no place like Jacksonville when it comes to helping pets in need! We are excited to welcome new volunteer foster parents to this amazing community of helpers and save even more kitten lives this year.”
The society also urged residents to follow its “Don’t Kitnap” guidance: assess the situation when finding kittens, because removing them from their environment is not always in their best interest. Information on how to help found kittens is available on the Jacksonville Humane Society website.
Those who cannot foster can still help by donating kitten care items. The shelter’s most-needed items can be ordered from its Amazon or Chewy wish lists and shipped directly to the shelter.
For more information on fostering, donating or other ways to help, visit the Jacksonville Humane Society website.