“Crosby, what does it mean when I hear Mom say ‘It’s Kitten Season?’ How are kittens made?”

“OK, Buddy…here it comes…get ready for a song!”

“Let me tell you ‘bout the birds and the bees and the flowers and the trees, and the moon up above…and a thing called LOVE!!”

“Crosby, you call that screeching ‘singing’? Jeez, you broke my ear drum!”

“OK, Buddy, let me tell you what kitten season is. When winter ends and the weather warms up, female cats that aren’t fixed go into heat. Male cats that aren’t fixed get chummy chummy with the ladies, and 60 days later the mamas begin having babies – litters of kittens.”

“Crosby, are they broken and that’s why they need to be fixed? And what does ‘being in heat’ mean – do they get hot?”

“No. Buddy. They aren’t broken. Fixed is just an easier way to say the girls get spayed, and boys get neutered.

When a female is in heat, her body changes and she is ready to meet a boy and make baby kittens. Females as young as 4 months old can have babies – babies making babies. There are only certain periods of the year when cats are in heat. Warm weather is when it starts.”

“Crosby – you are so smart! Can we make babies (giggle, giggle)?”

“No, Buddy, we have both been fixed! We had orchidectomy surgeries so we can’t make babies anymore. It helps keep the kitten population under control.”

“Crosby – Our orchids were taken out? Oh no!!!”

“Yes, Buddy, that’s one way of putting it (hahaha). When you’re older, Mom can explain it better to you.”

“What does it mean to have a litter?”

“Buddy, that’s just the word for the bundle of baby kitties that are born. Usually there are between 4 & 8 babies in a litter. The babies can be all different colors. Some can have long hair, some short hair.”

“Like me having orange & white short hair, and you having black & white long hair, Crosby? How can that happen?”

“Well, Buddy, females stay in heat for about 7 days. They can mate with different boys during that time, and when they have the litter of kittens, babies from the different fathers are all born at the same time. That’s where the different colors come from. “

“Crosby, you are so smart. Will I be that smart some day?”

“Of course, Buddy! You are already smart – look at all the questions you are asking – and now you have the answers too!”

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM CROSBY & BUDDY…

Females can get pregnant 2-3 times a year, and that is hard on their bodies. It’s usually stray cats living outdoors with no family to protect them. The cat population gets bigger at a faster rate than the dog population, so it’s very important to spay/neuter your cat.

Many shelters become overwhelmed with unwanted kittens from March through October, so if you’re contemplating adopting or fostering a kitten, look no further than your local animal shelter.

How Can You Help?

Shelters and cat rescues almost always need donations and foster parents during kitten season. Adopting or fostering a kitten will provide you with hours of fun and entertainment

5 Quick Kitten Facts

1. Felines are considered kittens until they are 1 year in age.

2. All kittens are born with blue eyes with their permanent eye color appearing around 4 weeks of age.

3. An unaltered female cat can become pregnant at 4 months of age so spay your kitten!

4. A kitten can be spayed or neutered when they reach 2 pounds in body weight, typically at 8 weeks of age.

5. Kittens instinctively know to use a litter box.

Reference: https://www.foundanimals.org/everything-need-know-kitten…/