1 week Ago
These two adorable kittens were discovered on a rooftop after their sibling unexpectedly fell to the ground below. Miraculously, he was unharmed, and the entire litter was safely brought to Pasadena Humane. Their arrival last March marked the beginning of Kitten Season at the shelter.
We’re now recruiting foster volunteers to help care for young kittens until they’re ready to find their new homes. Learn more at pasadenahumane.org/foster.
(Photo courtesy of Pasadena Humane) A litter of 2-week-old kittens were recently discovered after one of them tumbled off a roof to the surprise of people standing below. Miraculously, the kitten who fell was uninjured. His two siblings were safely located on the roof, but no mama cat was in sight.
The three little ones were brought to Pasadena Humane, where they are now being kept safe, warm, and fed in a wonderful temporary foster home. The arrival of these tiny felines marked the beginning of “Kitten Season.”Kitten Season, which runs from March through October, brings thousands of orphaned kittens to shelters like ours, overwhelming our resources.
We rely on a mighty army of foster volunteers to help us provide TLC for these young kittens, helping them grow big and strong before they are ready for adoption.Fostering is one of the most impactful ways you can get involved with helping animals. I should know, it’s a big part of what brought me to animal welfare over ten years ago.
Over the years, my wife and I have fostered a few hundred animals, including moms and babies, underage and neonatal kittens and puppies, and adult dogs and cats. As a foster parent, I quickly learned how to care for underage animals that require supplemental feedings and heat sources, along with the rewards of caring for an animal in the first couple of life stages.When I started at Pasadena Humane as our Kitten Nursery Manager back in 2018, I learned that the most ideal environment to care for underage animals is outside of a shelter setting.
Underage animals do not have fully developed immune systems, so keeping them away from an environment that has several animals with unknown medical histories is always ideal.Most shelters do not have the staff to provide care around the clock. A short-term commitment to housing a litter of kittens buys them a lifetime of happiness.
Raising kittens in a home where they get enrichment and regular interactions with humans makes their next step to adoption much easier.Foster programs like ours provide a beautiful way for the community to join our mission in creating a compassionate community for all animals. I’ve told many people “If I can do it, anyone can do it.
”It’s important to know that different age groups of kittens have unique needs. Newborn kittens need three things, to eat, sleep, and stay warm.I’ll admit, the first time I was tasked with having to bottle feed a baby kitten every few hours, I was terrified.
But I quickly learned that guiding a baby kitten through the stages of its eyes opening, first steps, and watching it start to play is very rewarding. It also doesn’t require a lot of space.For first-time fosters, I suggest the 4–6-week age range.
At this point, they are eating on their own, learning to explore, and developing their playful personalities. The name of the game is to get them bigger and offer socialization.Fostering kittens is an emotional ride, with its ups and downs.
It’s only natural that when the day comes to say goodbye there will be feelings of sadness, but I like to remind people that the few weeks they opened their homes gives that kitten or kittens a chance at a wonderful life.Be part of something amazing! Join us at our Kitten Shower on Saturday, April 12, at 11 a.m.
Meet renowned cat experts Mikel Delgado, Nathan the Cat Lady, and TrapKing, browse a one-of-a-kind cat marketplace, and take your first steps toward becoming a foster hero. Register at pasadenahumane.org/kittenshower2025Chris Ramon is interim president and CEO of Pasadena Humane.
pasadenahumane.org.
