Look out! Kitten Season is coming

Watson here, and until last year I had no idea that there was a Kitten Season. It turns out that Kitten Season refers to a period of time when female cats are giving birth to litters. It typically lasts between the months of April and October; however, it can happen year-round. Female cats usually have two litters a year though in colder areas only one. Many factors contribute to this yearly phenomenon. Longer days, warmer weather, and access to food are the perfect recipe for kittens.

It begins when the weather gets warmer and coincides with the time unaltered female cats are in heat. There are only certain periods of the year when cats are in heat and that is dependent on the weather. When a female is in heat, she is ready to meet a mate and conceive kittens.

An unaltered female cat can become pregnant at four months of age. The gestation time for kittens is about 60 days, and a cat can be pregnant several times a year. The average number of kittens in a litter is 4-8.
Amazingly, cats can have more than one litter through one pregnancy. Cats are in heat about seven days and during that time, they can mate with multiple male cats. This means they can give birth to kittens with different fathers at the same time.
Unlike other animals, cats can keep birthing litter after litter until the season ends. A single cat can have several litters during the year. In seven years an unaltered female, her mate, and offspring can produce 370,092 kittens. Overpopulation is a problem. The number of kitties surrendered to shelters during Kitten Season doubles because there are not enough homes.
If you have a kitty that needs to be spayed and you need financial aid, please check out the SNAPS program. Let us work together to have a healthy cat population.
XOXO
Watson
P.S. The list of contributors for Bark in the Park was incomplete for the last article. I hope that we have thanked everyone now.
IN NEED OF
Folks to donate to the Rotarians fundraiser. You can contribute by contacting Withers at proudpony@cccomm.net or Young at junethebookie@gmail.com.
Aluminum cans. If you have cans to pick up, give us a call (775-423-7500) and we will come get them. You can also drop them off at CAPS.
Folks who need help affording spaying/neutering for dogs or cats. The SNAPS program details are below.
 
SHOUT OUT TO
Aether Essentials, Allamont, Bodacious Beads, CC Communications, Desert Grown Gourds, Great Basin Apothecary. A pooch smooch to you!
The volunteers who gave their time to make Bark in the Park successful. You are the heart and soul of CAPS.
CC Communications, Three Happy Hounds, and Mavis for contributing items for the runners bags. All tails are wagging!
 
COME SEE US
CAPS is now open. We suggest appointments for adoptions, SNAPS, and food pantry. We need volunteers. Call 775-423-7500.

 

DON’T FORGET
May Holiday: World Dog Day May 21
SNAPS is a program offered to Churchill County residents through CAPS that provides low-cost spay/neutering for cats and dogs. To qualify for SNAPS, you need to have one of the following: Medicaid, a child enrolled in NV Check Up Program, food stamps, 2021 tax return stating income is less than $30,000 or Veterans disability card including a photo ID. Also required are a Churchill County ID and a co-pay. For more information, call CAPS at 423-7500.
CAPS’ mailing address is P.O. Box 5128, Fallon, NV 89407. CAPS’ phone number is 775-423-7500. CAPS’ email address is caps@cccomm.net. Please visit the CAPS website (www.capsnevada.com) and Facebook page (Churchill Animal Protection Society). Be sure to “Like” CAPS on Facebook because we are likeable.
CAPS is open to the public on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Kathleen Williams-Miller is a CAPS volunteer. Email jkwmil@outlook.com.