Kitten season heats up with summer solstice

Saturday marks the beginning of summer. While Gulf Coast residents are aware that this time of year signals hurricane season, animal advocates know we are in the throes of kitten season.

“Kitten season runs from late spring through the fall,” says Abby Santini, executive director of Project Purr Baton Rouge. “There are about 10 times as many kittens being born as other times of the year.”

Some professionals say kitten season is associated with the winter solstice (December 21) and the vernal equinox (September 21). They maintain the warmer weather and longer days cue female cats’ reproductive cycle to kick into high gear. So, after 60 days of gestation — around mid-March for the early litters — shelters notice an uptick kittens.

Each year, shelters and rescues struggle to find homes for the tiny tabbies, torties and other darling baby felines dumped on their doorsteps.

Right now, of the 80 felines available through Project Purr, more than 50 are kittens. If you’re looking to adopt a kitten, Santini says now is the best time: “There are so many available this time of year. It’s easier to find what you are looking for.”

That includes not only domestic American shorthairs but Russian blue, Orientals, Bombay, Maine Coon, Siamese, Snowshoe, Himalayan and other exotic mixes.

Even if you’re not ready for the 15-to-20-year commitment of a lifelong pet, summer is a great time to try short-term fostering. Not only is it fun, it saves lives.

Felines have an innate fear of humans — or really anything big that could kill them. It’s part of their survival strategy. If kittens haven’t had positive human contact by five week of age, their instinct is to remain fearful and feral. By contrast, those who grow up in homes tend to be more affectionate and make better, more confident and interactive pets.

With enough time and room for entertaining the kitten, Santini says adopting can be easy.

Fosters also commit to ensuring the kittens receive appropriate medical care and attend adoption events. While the foster pays the nominal cost of food and litter, the rescue pays for all veterinary care and medicines.

Project Purr’s rescued cats and kittens come from the East Baton Rouge Parish Shelter, where there is risk of euthanization.

“If we had more foster homes, we could save more kittens,” Santini says.

For more information about fostering, visit projectpurrbr.org.

These are among the fabulous felines now available for adoption through Project Purr.

Angel was found with her sisters in the back of a company truck. This buff tabby baby girl loves to play with her siblings all day long. She sleeps in her bed often, but her favorite spot is by her human’s neck.

Bernie was rescued from a small cage at the animal shelter. He wound up there after having been abandoned in a cage outside of a nightclub. However, bad things done to him by humans haven’t broken his spirit. This happy playful kitten loves everyone. He is best suited for an active family in which he will get lots of playtime and attention. He likes dogs and other kitties too.

Aryenn is a gorgeous female calico kitten.

Pudge is a sweet little guy, who loves to cuddle and purr. This young male brown tabby also loves to play chase with toys.

Sweet Borden will greet you at the door and rub on your legs while you are preparing dinner. He will patiently wait until you are ready to pet him, then he’ll respond with utmost affection. He loves to be scratched on his head. Borden is best suited for a home with adult owners who do not have a dog. He does, however, love to play with other cats.

Inga is a one-year-old love bug. This lap kitty had a string of common kitten illnesses, but she is now healthy. While she was a kitten, she lost one of her eyes to bad infection, but she doesn’t seem to mind a bit. Inga is about as affectionate as they come and needs a quiet loving forever home. She is best suited to being an only cat or a companion for another quiet, gentle cat.

All these pets have been spayed/neutered, vaccinated, microchipped and litterbox trained. Many other adoptable cats and kittens are available from Project Purr.