Pets of the Week
Help cats in need as kitten season begins
KENNEBUNK - The Animal Welfare Society is expecting over 600 kittens to care for during the next five months alone.In 2006, AWS saw over 1,100 kittens in total and the society staff expects that this number could be even greater for 2007 because of recent early spring-like days. Due to this annual influx of needy cats, the AWS is once again launching "Project Kitten," a campaign to raise public awareness of the cat overpopulation problem in southern Maine, and at the same time generate much needed donations of supplies to help care for the hundreds of furry friends we expect to see.
According to the Humane Society of the United States, a fertile cat can produce an average of three litters per year, with an average of four to six kittens per litter. Using these figures, a pair of unaltered cats and their offspring will be able to produce 420,000 cats in just seven years.
These unwanted cats and kittens are surrendered to the AWS, where we provide food, shelter, medical care, love and the chance to find a permanent home. With warmer weather on the way, AWS is gearing up for the arrival of the first wave of kittens, which are typically born in April, May and June. Project Kitten enables AWS to get a start on preparation for our busiest season.
"Project Kitten is a wonderful opportunity for us to get the word out about cat overpopulation and the importance of spaying and neutering," said Brian Winslow, development director of the Animal Welfare Society. "It also enables us to get the public excited about the many kittens that will soon be available for adoption. These animals need loving homes and we encourage any family to seriously consider visiting the shelter to meet some of our great cats."
Key elements of the Project Kitten campaign include acknowledging the reality of hundreds upon hundreds of homeless kittens born in southern Maine and brought to AWS each year; emphasizing the need for responsible pet ownership, which includes spaying and neutering of our companion animals, and giving caring individuals the opportunity to help through volunteering or making a much-needed donation.
The campaign not only seeks to gather donations of vital kitten supplies - Kitten Milk Replacement (KMR), dry and canned kitten food, cat litter and kitty toys - so that all the kittens can be given the proper food, shelter and loving attention for their first 8 to 10 weeks, but it also hopes to fund its "Year of the Cat" low-cost spay/neuter certificate program that assists individuals in getting their family pet spayed or neutered.
Donations of kitten supplies for Project Kitten will be accepted at the AWS shelter on Holland Road in West Kennebunk, or you can look for the Project Kitten Donation Boxes at our Project Kitten Drop-Off Locations, which will be coming soon.
Donations to the Year of the Cat program can be sent to the Animal Welfare Society Pay for a Spay, P.O. Box 43, West Kennebunk, ME 04094.
In addition, local schools, community groups and interested individuals are encouraged to participate in the Project Kitten Challenge by collecting donations and delivering the items to the AWS for the weigh-in ceremony at the fifth annual "Kitten Shower," which will be held in on Saturday, May 5.
The winner of the Project Kitten Challenge will earn bragging rights, a group prize and will be featured in a future issue of the AWS Newsletter as well as coverage on the AWS website. The public is also invited to attend the Kitten Shower to learn more about AWS and the many things AWS is doing to improve the outlook for cats in our community.
The AWS is also selling "Kit Kats for Kitty Cats" this year to benefit the cats in the shelter's care. You can buy a Kit Kat candy bar for $1 with proceeds that will go directly to the cats. Feel like helping out even more? Sign up to sell a box of 36 bars and make a real difference to these furry friends.
Groups interested in participating in the challenge, or anyone interested in learning more about Project Kitten, should contact Katie Lisnik at 985-3244 for more information.
