Swimming Kitten Video Casts Light on Darker Issue

Check out the video at the bottom of this post to see that “catfishing” in action. Just a note there is some language that some readers may find offensive.

A video that shows two Alabama fisherman pulling two waterlogged kittens out of the Warrior River is casting light on a problem many Floridians are all too familiar with this time of year: kitten abandonment.

On the video, titled “’Catfishing’ on the Warrior River,” Jason Frost “fishes” an orange kitten out of the water. Just as the little critter shakes off on the boat’s deck, Frost’s fishing companion, Brandon Key, points out a second kitten.

“I bet somebody put them out,” Frost is heard on the video saying as the second kitten makes its approach toward the two men’s boat.

A Very Real Problem

While both kittens were pulled to the safety of the boat, many others are not so lucky, animal rescue officials say. The ASPCA notes that 3.4 million companion cats are turned over to shelters each year. Some 1.4 million cats are euthanized. About 1.3 million cats are adopted.

In Florida, the warmer months are considered “kitten season,” according to officials at Pasco County Animal Services. Starting about April each year and continuing until cooler fall weather really kicks in, the Pasco shelter in Land O’ Lakes and many others across the state find themselves bursting at the seams with unwanted kittens.

“Summer is known as ‘kitten season’ because the warm weather acts as a catalyst for bringing intact female cats into heat, usually every three weeks,” said Andrea Ciesluk, animal services’ spokeswoman. One female cat can give birth to more than two litters during the warm months, she added.

While some shelters, such as Pasco’s, won’t take in every stray cat or kitten, overcrowding during these months is still an issue. The Pasco shelter in Land O’ Lakes does accept kittens if they’re too young to thrive on their own. Even with such limited admissions, the Pasco shelter had more than 80 cats, mostly kittens, last week prior to an adoption event, Ciesluk said.

The story is much the same in Hillsborough County where Morgan A. Woodward, pet services manager for the county’s Pet Services agency, said there are always plenty of cats and kittens available for adoption. In Florida, he explained, warmer weather throughout the year promotions breeding year-round. Even so, in the summer months, there’s almost an “explosion,” Woodward said.

“You can ask any shelter that does animal intake,” he said. “There’s a dramatic increase during the summer months.”

While Pasco’s shelter is limited-admission by policy, Hillsborough’s is not. That county takes in cats and kittens, including owner surrenders, but warns that kittens that are too small for spay or neutering surgery may be euthanized.

Alternatives exist, animal experts in both counties say.

Addressing the Issue

Combating overpopulation and kitten abandonment is a big problem that requires a multifaceted solution, animal experts say. Pet owners are the first line of defense.

“Spaying and neutering the cats is a big plus, especially if you’re going to keep them outside,” Ciesluk said.

Feral, or wild, cat populations can be helped through trap, neuter and release, TNR, programs. These programs, often run by nonprofits, involve the trapping of feral cats for delivery to veterinarians who then spay or neuter the animals and provide vaccines against rabies. Sterilized feral cats are then returned to the wild, unable to reproduce. In Pasco, organizations such as Spay Pasco and Cat Crusaders help residents get control over feral cat colonies in their neighborhoods.

Adopting cats and kittens from shelters can also help reduce the number of animals that may ultimately face being euthanized, officials say. For those who cannot adopt directly, agencies, such as Pasco County Animal Services, are always looking for foster homes for kittens that are too young to be on their own. “Bottle babies” are generally kept in foster care until they are eight weeks old or at least 2 pounds.

For more information about adopting a pet or fostering one in Pasco, visit animal services online. Interested foster families may also email Morgan Reeves at adoptionpartners@pascocountyfl.net for more details.

In Hillsborough County, the Wait Until 8 program provides people with the supplies they need to foster young kittens until they reach the 8-week or 2-pound mark when they can be spayed or neutered and made available for adoption. The foster program is offered at no cost to pet owners and includes such supplies as food, a litter box and other items bottle fed kittens might need. The county also offers low-cost options to help financially stressed pet owners get their animals spayed or neutered.

Counties throughout the Bay area have similar programs, as well.

Feral Kitten Encounters

One of the problems animal shelters encounter this time of year involves people moving litters of kittens from where their mothers can properly care for them. With that in mind, Woodward warns residents to monitor suspected feral cat litters for at least a day before trying to step in and “rescue” the kittens that are believed to have been abandoned by their mothers.

“Everyone wants to be a good natured citizen,” he said. Mother cats, he added, need breaks and they need to go out and hunt for food to feed their kittens. Just because a litter is left alone for a time doesn’t mean it’s untended. If there’s no sign of the mother after a day, then it’s time to step in. For Hillsborough residents, the Wait Until 8 program might serve as a good option for care.

As with Ciesluk, Woodward said one of the best ways people can help address over-population issues is to have their own pets spayed or neutered, especially if cats are kept outdoors. TNR programs, he added, can also valuable to call upon.

To find out more the services Hillsborough County offers, visit Pet Resources’ website.

YouTube screenshot from Alabama Adventures