Spring! Its kitten season!

The average number of litters a fertile cat can produce in one year is 3.

An unspayed female cat will go into heat every 3 weeks.

The average number of kittens in a feline litter is 4–6.

In seven years, one female cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 cats.

Only 1 in 12 of those 420,000 cats born finds a home.

Even if you found homes for all your cats, you are still taking away homes that other homeless cats could have had.

More kittens are born in the spring.

Fortunately, there are several steps you can take before the population in your area gets out of control.

Contact your local Humane society or animal shelter. They have spay/neuter programs set up to help in all circumstances.

For feral (wild) cats you can trap and release. The shelters can usually provide traps. This allows wild, homeless cats to get medical attention that they would not get otherwise.

Most shelters also offer spay/neuter programs for kittens under 5 months of age.

Get your neighbors involved, take up a collection. Point out to the the problems that the area will come into with a large population of cats. The cost of feeding them for years would be a much greater amount than resolving the problem now. If no one is feeding them, think of the garbage cans that will be getting broke into.

Great benefits of spaying and neutering your pets:

• Neutered males are 90% less likely to roam, fight and spray.

• Less kittens/puppies to find homes for.

• Protect your animals from cancer.

• Your pet will live a longer happier life.

• You will be saving thousands of animals from being homeless.

If you find a litter of kittens, DON'T grab them up and take them inside.

If the kittens are alone, don't assume they have been abandoned. Their mother might be out looking for food. Wait for an hour or two to see if she returns. Kittens need to be with their mother until they are 8 weeks old.

If the mother returns, leave them outside if they are feral, and provide food, water and shelter.

If the mother is friendly and you want to bring the kittens inside, make sure you bring the whole family.

If the mother does not return or the kittens look sick and uncared for, use your best judgment in deciding the care for the kittens.

• One-two weeks: Kittens’ eyes start to open — they are blue — and ears begin to open. They are crawling, snuggling and kneading.

• Three weeks: Kittens’ eyes fully open and ears are open and standing up. They are responding to noises and taking their first steps.

• Four-six weeks: Kittens are probably running, playing, digging and pouncing. They are starting to wean, and eyes have fully changed from blue to their adult color.

• Eight weeks: Kittens look like little versions of full grown cats. This is the best age at which to begin the socialization process.

Kittens need to be kept warm. You can use a sock filled with rice or beans, heated in the microwave or a heating pad.

Young kittens need to eat! A small bottle and milk can be purchased anywhere pet products are sold. Also, they need to use the bathroom, use a wet/warm napkin to wipe them until they have been relieved.

Provide a litter box, cats love litter so when they are ready, they will know what to do with it.

If your kitten is wheezing and you notice discharge in its eyes and nose, your kitten may have an upper respiratory problem. This needs to be treated with antibiotics.