‘Impending kitten storm’: Sacramento SPCA sees surge in strays amid pandemic. Here’s how to help
The impact of the coronavirus has been enormous, ravaging the economy and changing the daily lives of nearly everyone in the community — even kittens.
The Sacramento branch of the SPCA has observed a huge surge in stray kitten drop-offs at their shelter, located at 6201 Florin Perkins Road, due to coronavirus restrictions in place at other local facilities, including those run by the city of Sacramento and Sacramento County.
“Because the city shelter on Front Street and county shelter on Bradshaw are limiting stray animal intake due to COVID-19, we are seeing more stray animals in crisis — especially kittens — arriving at our doors,” Sacramento SPCA CEO Kenn Altine said in a prepared statement.
Since April 1, the Sacramento SPCA has recorded a 500 percent increase in kittens younger than six weeks old either abandoned in front of the shelter or dropped off by concerned citizens.
The shelter usually cares for 600 kittens annually, about 60 of which are under six weeks and without a mother. However, the SPCA has already come close to its yearly benchmark for young stray kittens.
“We need the public’s help to address this issue — in education on leaving kittens in place, in becoming ‘bottle-baby’ fosters, and in supporting our spay/neuter programs through donations,” Altine said. “The needs of animals were not put on hold during this pandemic. We may be closed to the public, but we are always here for the animals. We are the only haven for unwanted animals and owners in crisis who need to surrender a cherished pet, regardless of its age, breed, health or behavior.”
The SPCA has temporarily suspended its spay and neuter services during the pandemic, which means there may be a spike in kitten births soon, which has shelter officials bracing for a huge kitten season.
“We recognize that demand for low-cost spay & neuter services in our region far outweighs the current capacity,” said Altine. “With the shut down of our spay & neuter services in April, the need to protect our animals and community will be even greater.”
What you can do to help
Sometimes, its better to do nothing. The SPCA said that stray kittens who appear helpless or lost are actually better off untouched. Often, their mother is nearby and will return soon, and kittens have a much better chance at survival with their mother.
“Moving them should only be considered if they are in a life-threatening or dangerous location,” the SPCA said.
However, those with previous experience nursing fostered neonatal kittens by hand are encouraged to help out.
The SPCA is actively recruiting such qualified candidates and ask that anyone interested contact shelter management.
The shelter also noted that a significant amount of revenue has disappeared after halting its public programs due to coronavirus, but it does accept donations.
This story was originally published April 25, 2020 at 1:47 PM.