Calabasas Residents Urged To Rethink 'Saving' Stray Kittens

LOS ANGELES, CA — Los Angeles County has been in the midst of a kitten boom since 2019, and now county officials are hoping to educate well-meaning animal lovers who accidentally separate stray kittens from their mothers.

The "Got Kittens" campaign -- organized by Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control in collaboration with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals aims to teach people whether their well-intentioned efforts might do more harm than good by first determining whether the kitten is really in need.

Kittens who are quiet and appear healthy and clean are likely cared for by a mother who may be hiding or hunting, according to campaign officials. Such kittens are much better off in the care of their mother than being brought to a shelter. In shelters, they often face overcrowded conditions, stress and even disease. In fact, most kittens brought to shelters do not survive, according to L.A. County Animal Care and Control.

"When you find kittens outside, it's crucial to pause and assess how to help these vulnerable animals in a way that matches their unique situation to give them the best chance at survival and avoid overwhelming shelters when it's not necessary," said Tina Reddington Fried, director of ASPCA's Los Angeles Volunteer and Kitten Programs.

"It can be tempting to take the kittens home or immediately bring them to a shelter, but some kittens who are with their mother should often be left alone or monitored as no one can care for a kitten like their own mother."

If the mother is no longer with the kittens, the county department says it's best for them to be placed into a foster home to receive enough attention until they are old enough to be adopted.

"Kittens are the most vulnerable animals we serve, and it is important to provide the best environment and resources for them during this critical period of their lives. We are grateful for the foster volunteers who assist DACC in achieving positive outcomes for the kittens, as well as the Los Angeles County Animal Care Foundation for funding our kitten rescue programs," county animal control Director Marcia Mayeda said.

People who see a stray kitten and aren't sure what to do should visit ASPCA.org/FoundKittens to determine if the animal should be brought to a shelter.

To determine if the kitten needs help, the website will have you answer a series of questions while including images to help you determine the answers. The questions include:

• Do the kittens appear ill or injured?
• Are the kittens over two months of age?
• Are the kittens social and friendly with humans?
• Do you see their mother around?

L.A. County Animal Care and Control encouraged people who want to help to sign up to foster kittens at https://animalcare.lacounty.gov/become-a- foster-caretaker/.

City News Service and Patch Staffer contributed to this report.