Community Corner

Fairfax Animal Shelter Sees Influx of Kittens

The shelter has more cats and kittens than homes for them.

The  is experiencing an influx of cats and kittens, with all of the shelter’s cages now full and an additional 100 cats being housed outside the shelter with foster caregivers.

“We are hearing from shelters and rescues around the region that they are also overwhelmed with the volume of cats and kittens currently being taken in,” says Karen P. Diviney, director of the shelter. “We are appealing to citizens to help us save the lives of countless cats and kittens this busy summer season.”

Animal shelter employees said that warm temperatures sparked more cats to go into heat, which resulted in additional pregnancies.

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The shelter is encouraging adoption, as always, but they also have additional tips for residents who find stray kittens or cats:   

  • Those who plan on surrendering their cat to the shelter should consider holding off until more cats or kittens are adopted. 
  • Consider finding homes for cats or kittens through alternative  means, such as through friends, family, neighbors or coworkers.
  • If you see a stray cat, leave it in place so that it can potentially find its way home.
  • Leave kittens in place with their mother, especially if they are too young to eat on their own.
  • If you must intervene with kittens, offer to help the shelter by providing in-home foster care in your home until the kittens are 8 to 10 weeks of age.
  • Spay or neuter all tame cats you currently own.
  • If you have a cat who is pregnant, keep the mother and babies until the kittens are 8 to 10 weeks of age to help the shelter conserve foster homes for kittens who otherwise have no place to go. Keep the mother cat in your home after the kittens are adopted and ask the shelter about its spay program for female cats so no more unwanted kittens are born.
  • Get involved with the shelter’s trap, neuter and return program to have outdoor cats spayed or neutered. Find out more information about the shelter’s low-cost spay/neuter program.

Sick or injured cats may still be referred by phone to animal control at 703-691-2131.

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