Kitten season has returned to Sacramento. Here’s what to expect — and how you can help

Kitten season is here, which may inadvertently mean you will see more stray cats out in the streets over the next few months.

Here’s what to know and how you can help:

About kitten season

Kitten season is usually a time when many liters of kittens are born, according to the Pet Health Network. Kitten season varies depending on where you live, but usually happens between April and October.

“Kitten season has kicked into high gear at the Sacramento SPCA,” said Sarah Varanini, communication manager at the Sacramento Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The Sacramento SPCA currently has 70 kittens in foster homes and received 19 stray kittens Sunday alone, Varanini said.

Why is there a kitten season?

Kittens, much like rabbits, breed very early on in their lives. According to Pet Health Network, a female cat can become pregnant as early as 5 month old.

A cat litter can average anywhere between four to six kittens, and a cat can have more than one litter a year, according to the Humane Society.

If a cat gets pregnant twice in one year, that can average up to 12 kittens from one cat.

How you can help

You can help the overpopulation of cats in Sacramento with these two tips:

Spay your cat

If you own a cat it’s recommended that you spay your kitten early on to help reduce the overpopulation of cats.

Around two million cats are euthanized each year in shelters and animal control facilities throughout the nation, according to the Humane Society of the United States.

Adopt

Another way to help is by adopting a cat from a shelter like the Sacramento SPCA.

Those who are interested in adopting can see the kittens and cats that are available on the SPCA site.

SPCA kitten adoption fees are $100 and include neutering and vaccination. Adoptions are done on a first come first serve process. Shelter hours are from Tuesday to Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.