Humane Society of West Michigan's Kitten Caboodles program aims to care for and save homeless kittens in West Michigan.
Did you know? When warmer weather comes, animal shelters see an increase in stray cats breeding and litters of homeless kittens arriving, sometimes multiple times a day. According to the Humane Society of West Michigan, many of these kittens come in with illnesses, malnourishment, and need specialized around the clock care.
To help care for these kittens in need, HSWM has launched their "Kitten Caboodles" program, offering a way for community members to play an integral part in their health and recovery. These Kitten Caboodles contain everything needed to provide kittens in need with specialized care and save as many of them as possible.
Contents of the Kitten Kits include milk replacements, kitten food, heating disc, toys that mimic the sound of a mother cats' heartbeat, and other medical care items.
"The Humane Society of West Michigan annually intakes 500-700 kittens during the springtime, sometimes as young as one day old," said Winni Walsh, Director of Development & Marketing, Humane Society of West Michigan. "To provide the necessary extra care, HSWM is asking for donations to our Kitten Kit Fundraiser. Donations to this fund support supplies and treatments these kittens need to survive."
A bonus? Supporters of the program are also offered the opportunity to name a kitten they are helping care for!
In addition to supporting the Kitten Caboodle program, HSWM wants to remind the community to take the following steps to help mitigate the critical effects of kitten season:
- Spay and neuter your pets to avoid unexpected surprises.
- If you find a kitten in the wild, do not immediately bring it to a shelter. Check if the kitten is clean, warm to the touch, and has a plump belly. This means it is well cared for by its mother and does not need to be brought in.
- If there is no sign of mom and the kittens appear thin and lethargic, bring them in.
Learn more and donate to the Kitten Caboodles program by clicking here.
Written by Sarah Suydam, Managing Editor for West Michigan Woman.
Photo Courtesy of Humane Society of West Michigan.
