By Annabel Simmons

Spring brings forth warmer temperatures, longer days, blooming flowers — and kittens. For cat lovers, a season full of newborn kittens is an exciting prospect. However, as kitten season arrives, animal shelters and rescue groups face a wave of new challenges. Through community support, these challenges can be managed, helping to ensure a safe and healthy start for every kitten.

Kitten season coincides with early spring through late fall, peaking during the warmest months. In most parts of the United States, spring marks the time when many animals begin to mate and give birth. According to the National Wildlife Federation, higher fertility rates during this season are attributed to greater access to resources, such as food, that are essential for survival. 

During kitten season, unspayed female cats enter into their estrus cycle, commonly referred to as “heat,” more frequently. The estrus cycle can last up to 21 days, and if a cat does not mate during this period, she will go out of heat for around seven days before the cycle repeats. Pregnancy typically lasts between 64 to 71 days, with cats usually giving birth to four to six kittens per litter, though that number can reach up to 12, according to VCA veterinary hospital. Oftentimes, cats give birth to multiple litters throughout the season.

This influx of kittens often places a significant strain on shelters and rescue groups, as the amount of resources needed to care for them can become overwhelming. Medical care, food and space become high demand. 

In 2019, Jennifer Pokrandt, founder and executive director of Mew Cat Rescue, saw the need for greater animal support in Northwest Arkansas. Mew is a foster-based, 501(c)(3) non-profit cat rescue that was founded in Bentonville. Since its opening, Mew has saved over 4,500 cats.

“Kitten seasons hits big time and all at the same time,” Pokrandt said. “The flood hasn’t hit yet, but we expect any day. They (kittens) start to be seen more once mamma brings them out, and they start walking.” 

Mew offers a foster program that gives cats and kittens temporary homes until they are ready for adoption. Once kittens reach 2.5 pounds, typically around 8 to 9 weeks old, they are ready to be adopted. Having enough fosters is vital to sustaining Mew’s work, especially since the organization currently does not operate a physical facility to house cats. 

Finding fosters is one of the greatest challenges during kitten season. For those looking for a temporary companion, consider fostering this kitten season. 

“We would love to have more fosters in the Fayetteville area,” Pokrandt said. “We pay all expenses, so the foster doesn’t need to worry.” 

Another urgent need for Mew, and for most shelters and rescues in Northwest Arkansas, is donations. Kittens are extremely susceptible to illness, so funds are critical for maintaining their health during this time. 

“Kitten season takes thousands of dollars to get through, from supplies to vet care,” Pokrandt said. “We can only keep operating with donations.” 

Kittens under 4 to 5 weeks old must be bottle-fed, which requires intensive time and care. Finding bottle-feeders also proves arduous. 

“Kittens can die in hours without milk,” Pokrandt said.  “Rescues have to find a person willing to stay up all night for weeks to feed round the clock every few hours.” 

If a kitten can remain with its mother while it is still within the bottle-feeding age, this is the best option to increase the likelihood of survival. This also ensures that kittens are not unnecessarily brought to shelters, where resources are limited. 

Katherine Guerrero has worked as a shelter attendant with Fayetteville Animal Services for four years. She said that kittens are frequently found and brought to shelters because people are unaware that their mother is nearby. 

“Usually, mothers hide their kittens and feed them when nobody’s around,” Guerrero explained. 

Attentively observing the kittens and their nest can be an easy way to tell if the mother is still caring for them. If the kittens appear calm and well-fed, it is likely that their mother is close by, and they should be left alone. If a mother has abandoned her kittens, they may be dirty, crying from hunger or found in an unkempt nest. 

When one comes across stray kittens, the best thing to do is wait to see if their mother returns. Guerrero said that she recommends waiting at least 24 hours before intervening. This is extremely important because kittens that remain with their mothers have a much higher chance of survival, as a mother’s milk contains vital nutrients and antibodies. 

One of the most impactful ways to reduce the strain of kitten season is through spaying and neutering. Fayetteville Animal Services offers a trap-neuter-return (TNR) program, in which community cats are spayed or neutered and released afterwards.

 “This helps reduce the pet population,” Guerrero said. “Last season, we saw a greater decrease in kittens than we have previously, so it’s working.” 

Low-cost spay and neuter services are also available to qualifying families through the Fayetteville shelter. Across Northwest Arkansas, there are an abundance of organizations that offer similar programs, including Lester C Howick Animal Shelter, Humane Society of the Ozarks and Best Friends Pet Resource Center. Choosing to adopt from local shelters and rescue groups is another way individuals can be of aid this season. 

Isabella Galloway, an engineering student at the University of Arkansas, adopted a kitten in June 2025 from Best Friends Pet Resource Center, located in Bentonville. Best Friends is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, with locations across the United States, providing adoption, spay/neuter and educational programs.

“Best friends has a kitten room where they allow the kittens to roam freely,” Galloway said. “Whenever I got there they had just gotten a big shipment of kittens, and there were so many people in the room. As soon as I saw [my kitten], I knew he was mine. It was honestly a fight to get him because everyone wanted him. He was so cute.”

Galloway said that she chose to adopt from Best Friends because she knew that it was a good organization. Best Friends also frequently waves their adoption fees, so her kitten was completely free. Additionally, her kitten’s vaccinations were up to date, and he was already neutered. 

“I think I really wanted a kitten because I wanted a companion in college,” she said. “I think having a cat helps with mental health a lot, especially in college where you can feel lonely.”

However, she also explained that a kitten could be difficult for time-constrained students to handle because they have very high energy and require a lot of attention. For those with little time, adopting a kitten might be too stressful. Galloway said that she already had another cat, so her kitten had an additional companion.

“If I was adopting a singular cat, I would probably get a fully grown cat around 2-3 years old to avoid that stress,” she said. “Before you get a cat in college, I would recommend doing some research to make sure that it will fit into your lifestyle and that you know how to care for it. Getting a cat is a really big responsibility that will always have to be at the top of your priorities, but it’s worth it.”

With kitten season approaching, consider how to make a difference. Whether it’s by fostering, donating, adopting or simply spreading awareness, community support can give vulnerable kittens the chance to find forever homes.