Kitten Season is Here!
Meet Erika, Our First Mama of the Year, and Learn How You Can Help.
As the weather warms, shelters across the country prepare for a familiar and heart-melting challenge: kitten season. From early spring through late fall, thousands of kittens are born, and many find themselves in shelters or in need of urgent care. At the Humane Society of Kitchener Waterloo & Stratford Perth (HSKWSP) we’re already feeling the effects. Erika officially kicked off 2025 Kitten Season at the HSKWSP!
At the end of February, Erika arrived as a stray, pregnant and in need of a safe place to welcome her little ones. Thanks to one of our amazing foster homes, she gave birth to five healthy kittens in a warm, quiet environment where she could focus on being the wonderful mom she is. Her story is just the beginning; over the next several months we’ll care for dozens more pregnant cats and vulnerable newborns who rely on our community’s compassion and support.
What is Kitten Season?
Kitten season refers to the time of year when unspayed female cats begin giving birth more frequently, typically due to longer daylight hours and milder temperatures. While these fluffy arrivals are undeniably cute, the sudden increase in population can overwhelm shelters and rescue organizations.
Many of the kittens we see are orphaned, underweight, or too young to eat on their own, requiring round-the-clock bottle-feeding, warmth, and medical care. It's an all-hands-on-deck season, and you can help.
How You Can Help During Kitten Season
Spay & Neuter Your Pets
The best way to reduce the number of kittens entering shelters is prevention. Ensure your cats are spayed or neutered.
Become a Kitten Foster
Fosters like Erika’s are lifesavers! Many kittens are too young for adoption and need temporary homes for feeding, socialization, and care. We provide the supplies, you provide the love.
Donate Supplies or Funds
Kitten season means increased demand for kitten formula, bottles, blankets, wet food, and more. Check out our Foster Wishlist or consider making a monetary donation to help us provide lifesaving care.
Adopt, Don’t Shop
Thinking about adding a furry friend to your family? Our kittens are vaccinated, spayed/neutered, and ready for a forever home. Every adoption makes room for more animals in need.
Erika’s Story Is Just the Start
Erika and her six kittens are thriving, thanks to the incredible support of our foster network and donors. But with many more mamas and babies on the way, we need your help now more than ever.
Together, we can give these tiny lives the care, comfort, and chance they deserve.
