The Ulster County SPCA is in need of fosters for bottle baby kittens, weaned kittens, kittens still in the care of their mama cat, orphaned kittens, and kittens awaiting adoption. On March 25, they are also hosting their annual Kitten Shower – think a baby shower, but for fur babies – inviting the public to donate much needed supplies to care for kittens coming into the shelter.
Every year, the UCSPCA finds homes for over 350 kittens. Providing care for that many kittens is a joy, but is not always easy. And with so many surrenders for cats and dogs this month, the shelter needs community residents to sign up as volunteer fosters to make space in the shelter.
Kittens need a great deal of attention and care, as well as special food, nursing bottles, and hand-feeding syringes for especially neonatal kittens. Fosters are needed for different levels of care. The ideal foster for baby bottle kittens is someone at home all day, as kittens at this age require feeding every couple of hours. For kittens still with their mama cat, fosters need a private, quiet space – Mama cat will do most of the work. Orphaned or weaned kittens also require a quiet space and regular feeding throughout the day, as well as socialization. Kittens are expected to stay with the foster until they are adopted through the Ulster County SPCA.
The Ulster County SPCA provides fosters with all veterinary care, including preventatives, microchips, deworming, vaccinations, and spay/neuter surgery. Additionally, they provide food, supplements, toys and other necessary equipment for fostering. Fosters just need to have the space, time, and reliable transportation to care for the animals. Community members interested in signing up as kitten fosters, or fostering an adult cat or dog, should visit www.ucspca.org to learn more.
For those unable to foster, the Kitten Shower is on March 25 where community members can donate the items needed to care for kittens, such as kitten wet food, nursing bottles, heating pads, and more. The UCSPCA covers all these needs through donations, as they do not receive support from either the ASPCA or the Ulster County government.
Donations can be made during the Kitten Shower on March 25 during the shelter’s open hours, 11:30am to 3:30 p.m. All other donations are also accepted at all times in their donation bins at their location at 20 Wiedy Road in Kingston, just off of Sawkill Road.
To learn more about the Ulster County SPCA’s Kitten Shower and the items they need donated, visit their website at ucspca.org, or call (845) 331-5377. To become a volunteer with the Ulster County SPCA and foster kittens, email their volunteer coordinator at volunteer@ucspca.org or call (845) 331-5377 ext 215.