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Please make your shopping count and help support our nonprofit science-centered mission to significantly reduce animal suffering on a global scale by developing a safe, edible, one-dose, permanent-lasting birth control Cookie for stray dogs and cats!
The Spay and Neuter Cookie is desperately needed. “Kitten season” has begun, which means cats are breeding at a faster rate. Because kittens under 8 weeks old require intense, round-the-clock, specialized care, they are frequently killed in shelters on the first day they are brought in. See below to learn more about this shocking reality. There are far too many homeless animals and not enough homes.
Thank you for helping animals, even while you shop!
What is Kitten Season?
Kitten season is the time of year when cats breed the most. Kitten season occurs from spring to autumn.
Cats can reproduce extremely quickly. Unlike dogs, who go into heat about once every six months, cats can go into heat every two weeks during the mating season. Cats have an intense instinct to breed and will relentlessly seek out mates.
Cat litters can range from 2-8 kittens.
It’s clear to see how the situation has rapidly gotten out of control. Tragically, this means that newborn kittens—neonatal kittens—are killed in shelters at a high rate.
This is commonly called “euthanasia,” but that term is defined as “the act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals (such as persons or domestic animals) in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy.” These kittens are not sick or injured. They just need their mothers or specialized care, and unfortunately, neither of these are typically available at shelters.
Neonatal kittens being killed in U.S. shelters
The consequences of kitten overpopulation are dire. One of the most tragic consequences is the high percentage of neonatal kittens being killed in shelters.
Neonatal kittens are kittens that are under four weeks old, and they require round-the-clock care and attention to survive. Unfortunately, most animal shelters do not have the resources to provide this level of care. As a result, many neonatal kittens are killed the same day they arrive at the shelter.
Kittens between 4 and 8 weeks old are also in grave danger, because 8 weeks is the earliest possible age for spay/neuter, and the shelter may not have space to keep them for that long. Please check out “Kitten Lady” Hannah Shaw’s informative page and video.
In addition to the high rate of killings at shelters, kitten overpopulation also contributes to the spread of diseases such as feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus. When cats are overcrowded in animal shelters, they are more likely to contract and spread diseases. This can also lead to overcrowding in veterinary clinics, which can make it more difficult for sick cats to receive the care they need.
How to help prevent the killing of neonatal kittens
There are several ways that we can help address the kitten overpopulation crisis. The most important step is to spay and neuter our cats. This helps to reduce the number of unwanted litters and prevents cats from contributing to the overpopulation problem. Many animal welfare organizations offer low-cost spay and neuter services, and some even offer free services for low-income households.
Another way to help is to adopt a cat or kitten from a local animal shelter or rescue organization. By adopting, we are giving a home to a cat that might otherwise be killed in a shelter. Also, adopting from a shelter or rescue organization helps to reduce the overcrowding in these facilities, which can save the lives of other cats and kittens.
If we are unable to adopt, we can still help by fostering kittens. Fostering involves taking care of kittens in our home until they are old enough to be adopted. This helps to free up space in animal shelters and provides kittens with the care they need to survive. Fostering can also be a rewarding experience, as we get to watch kittens grow and develop into healthy, happy cats.
600 Million Dogs Has a Unique Solution to stop the killing of kittens
Our nonprofit science-centered mission is to significantly reduce animal suffering on a global scale by developing a safe, edible, one-dose, permanent-lasting birth control Cookie for stray dogs and cats.
Please visit our Current Studies and other Science pages to learn more.
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