Kitten season is the annual period, typically from March through October, when cats breed and give birth to the highest volume of litters. Brought on by warmer weather and longer days, this influx of stray or feral kittens can overwhelm animal shelters with vulnerable offspring, often requiring intensive care and resources.

Even in a well-run shelter environment, that level of care is difficult to provide for dozens of kittens at the same time. That’s why kitten season has to be a true community effort.

The good news is that helping kittens doesn’t require special expertise; just compassion and a willingness to lend a hand.