Rescue Tail / Kitten Heros 
By Tara McFarland
Kitten season. It comes every year without fail. Although they are adorable, kittens arriving at our shelter means unaltered animals created unwanted litters. So it goes, every year, the repetitive cycle continues.
This year alone, 400 kittens entered our Key West and Marathon Campuses. Sadly, not every kitten you see for adoption started off as happy, healthy and socialized. Many kittens come to us from feral litters with an assortment of afflictions, and attitudes to match. Ringworm, coccidia, parasites, anemia, upper respiratory infections and a host of other issues that require a great deal of time, management and resources to treat, are some of the few common illnesses we see and treat.
Additionally, bottle babies are arguably the most emotional investment, and time commitment for our caregivers. Bottle babies require around the clock care through feedings and assistance eliminating every few hours for weeks on end. With hungry mouths to feed day and night, raising bottle babies is rewarding, and exhausting.
As our kittens grow stronger, healthier, bigger and happier, the day finally comes at around eight weeks of age when they are old enough to be spayed or neutered, microchipped and adopted. Each and every one of those 400 kittens being spayed or neutered means 400 less adult cats able to reproduce and contribute to next year’s kitten season. Through our TVNR program, adult feral cats are also trapped, neutered, vaccinated and released back into colonies in a targeted effort to reduce overpopulation.
We can’t care for all these cats and kittens ourselves, which is where our lifesaving fosters come in. Our kitten fosters open their hearts and home to kittens each season. As a foster parent, they provide a safe place for our kittens to overcome their ailments, grow, socialize, learn and play. When the time comes for their spay or neuter, they are returned to the shelter to be adopted into loving furever families. Our foster families are true animal heros, making impacts on the everyday lives of the animals they temporary house and love.
You can join us as a foster parent in our Key West or Marathon foster program. To learn more about becoming a foster parent for our Key West Campus email Lindsey@fkspca.org and at our Marathon Campus, Tara@fkspca.org
[livemarket market_name="KONK Life LiveMarket" limit=3 category=“” show_signup=0 show_more=0]