Kitten rescue in Leopoldsburg implements kitten stop after exceptionally early start to kitten season: 'They keep pouring in'

Kitten rescue organizations in Belgium are facing an unprecedented influx of young cats, forcing some, like Kittenopvang Cattaleya in Leopoldsburg, to implement a "kitten stop." The early start to the kitten season, attributed to unusually warm weather, has overwhelmed the capacity of local shelters and foster families.

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The kitten season normally only starts in the summer months, but nowadays it starts earlier and earlier in the year.

Debbie De Rossi, the cat manager at the Genk animal shelter, noted that the kitten season usually begins in the summer months but is starting earlier each year. She believes the high temperatures experienced in the past month may be contributing to this trend. While Genk's shelter has not yet imposed a stop, kittens continue to arrive in large numbers, posing a significant challenge for the upcoming summer months.

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Our 52 foster families are currently full.

Natalia Heeren from Kittenopvang Cattaleya stated that their 52 foster families are currently full. Caring for newborn kittens requires intensive, round-the-clock attention, with kittens needing feeding every three to four hours. This demanding care is difficult to provide in a shelter environment, making foster families essential.

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Foster families have to get up early because these young kittens need a bottle every 3 to 4 hours.

Heeren made a strong appeal to cat owners to sterilize their animals. She highlighted that cats can become pregnant as early as five months old, often leading to unexpected litters. Early sterilization is presented as a crucial step in managing the population of stray and abandoned kittens.

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Many people don't know it, but a cat can become pregnant from the age of 5 months. Before they know it, owners have a litter of kittens.