Here kitty kitty
Companions Animal Center has an abundance of cuddly, cute kittens and could use a little help feeding them.
And if you want to adopt, even better. You would be the cat's meow.
“They’re cute, so darn cute,” said Vicky Nelson, CAC development director.
CAC’s kitten population this year has doubled over the same period last year, and the food needed to keep them fat and happy is quickly disappearing. There are nearly 200 kittens in foster care and at the shelter on Atlas Road.
It has those who pay the bills at CAC yowling in concern.
“We are purchasing hundreds of pounds of dry food and cases of wet food,” Nelson said.
The doubling of the kitten population is unprecedented.
“I don’t think I’ve seen it,” Nelson said.
Kittens are being turned in after being found in sheds, behind wood piles and under boat covers.
“Everywhere you can imagine,” Nelson said.
Kittens may weigh a few pounds, but they have lion-sized appetites.
In just the past two months, CAC has spent $4,000 on kitten food and formula. The shelves for kitten food are empty.
CAC just ordered 300 pounds of Purina Kitten Chow, 30 cases of canned kitten food and formula. But it's not just a matter of feeding them. Kittens demand a lot of the staff’s time.
“The cat people have been drowning in kittens,” said Hillary Darty, shelter manager.
CAC has adopted out 119 kittens this year, with an adoption fee of $100 each.
Kittens can’t be adopted until they are at least eight weeks old, have been spayed or neutered, microchipped, had their shots and weigh at least 2 pounds.
"We have a lot to choose from," Nelson said.
Donations of food and money are welcome to keep the kittens purring happily. Purina Kitten Chow and Fancy Feast canned kitten food are best.
Nelson said it’s “anybody’s guess” why so many kittens are being turned in at the no-kill shelter.
“Maybe because of the warm weather we’ve had this winter more cats out doing their thing,” she said, laughing.
A kitten enjoys a meal at Companions Animal Center.