Kitten season is nearly upon us. Yes, it will warm up and dry out, and that is nature’s signal for the feral cat population to begin breeding in our gorgeous Santa Ynez Valley. All too soon, seemingly abandoned litters of cute kittens will begin to appear in backyards and under bushes. Who hasn’t experienced the tremendous urge to reach out to tiny mewing bundles of fluff, obviously abandoned, or were they…?

Before scooping them up and putting them in a box, an extra bathroom or taking them to the local shelter, you must be sure that they are truly abandoned. All too often, the mother is just out hunting and will return soon, so unless the kittens are in danger (hawk, dog, busy street…), do nothing except watch. Tiny kittens need to nurse every two-three hours around the clock. Separated from their mother, a tremendous amount of effort is required to bottle feed kittens; often with tragic results. Not only does it take its toll physically on the kittens and the human caregivers, but it throws the mother cat into great distress for several days as she searches for them, and then back into heat causing her to produce an extra litter for the season. More feral cats we don’t need in the Valley!

I’m not saying that you should do nothing, but there are certain tried and true methods that can be used to rescue feral cat families. After observing the kittens for several hours to ensure they are safe and see if the mother returns, call Catalyst for Cats for help in trapping. Keeping the family together has obvious advantages, as the mother will usually continue to care for her litter in confinement. We use humane traps and foster the cats, until the kittens are weaned at around six to eight weeks. During this time, the little ones are carefully handled and socialized, making them adoptable upon separation from the mother. The mother, too, is worked with, and if she is not too wild and can be handled, attempts will be made to find a home for her as well. Worst case scenario would be that she is too feral, at which point she would be spayed, tested for disease and returned to where she was trapped, as long at there is a willing someone to provide ongoing food and water. The kittens will also be spayed/neutered before being put up for adoption.

Catalyst for Cats is a Santa Barbara County nonprofit organization dedicated to the welfare of feral cats. Through its trap, neuter and return (TNR) and feeding programs, scores of strays have a regular food source, find relief from the endless breeding urges and homes are found for those who are able to be socialized.