SPCA Tampa Bay Seeks Foster Volunteers During Kitten Season

SPCA Tampa Bay is seeking volunteers in Pinellas County to temporarily foster animals in need. SPCA Tampa Bay, and many other local rescues and shelters, experience an influx of young kittens who need a few weeks of specialized care during peak kitten season.

Each spring and summer, a surge of kittens who are too young to live and thrive in a shelter environment are born in our community. Many require bottle feeding, frequent monitoring and structured care routines, making foster homes critical to their survival.

Volunteers who can care for kittens allow SPCA Tampa Bay to expand its capacity and save more lives. In 2025 alone, 333 cats and kittens were fostered through SPCA Tampa Bay’s volunteers, and the organization expects greater needs this season.

Ideal foster volunteers are:

• At least 18 years old with reliable transportation

• Open to caring for a variety of animals and ages

• Comfortable following guidance and communicating with staff

• Flexible and responsive to urgent needs

Foster opportunities may involve caring for neonatal kittens, adult cats that need time to decompress and animals that are recovering from illness or injury. SPCA Tampa Bay provides all necessary medical care, supplies and training, requiring no out-of-pocket expenses from volunteers, along with ongoing support from staff and experienced fosters.

Fostering even one kitten can help create space for another animal in need. Foster placements are flexible and vary in length depending on the animal’s needs. Interested individuals can learn more and apply at https://spcatampabay.org/foster/.

About SPCA Tampa Bay

SPCA Tampa Bay is a for-all shelter that transforms the lives of animals through passionate collaboration with the community. It is the only non-profit animal welfare agency in Pinellas County that accepts all pets surrendered by their owners – any species, any size and any reason – and injured wildlife. Founded in 1940, SPCA Tampa Bay cares for more than 8,000 animals that are admitted to its 10-acre campus in Largo each year. In addition, the nonprofit provides free and low-cost vaccines and runs pet food banks. For more information: www.spcatampabay.org.