[ PET OHANA ]
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"Kitten season" -- the time of year when many unplanned litters of kittens are born -- is near. Families come to
the aid of kittensBy Hawaiian Humane Society
"Spring is peak breeding season for felines," said Nettie Vierra, manager of customer service for the Hawaiian Humane Society. "Despite all the emphasis on preventing litters, there are still many cats that are not fixed, and hundreds of homeless kittens will be born this spring. These young kittens depend on two kinds of heroes to give them a chance at life: the people who bring the kittens to the shelter, and the foster-care volunteers."
Felines have the best chance of surviving by being socialized, sterilized and then adopted by a loving family, Vierra said. "Since kittens can begin reproducing as young as 6 months, they should be brought to the shelter before that."
The humane society will pick up the animals at no charge if the person discovering them can confine the cats in a carrier or carton.
"It is best when the mother cat is kept with the kittens until they are 8 weeks old and then brought to us," said Mary Tashiro, manager of animal care at the humane society. "We keep litters together so the kittens learn from their mothers and siblings. Even without a mom-cat, the kittens will naturally discover how to get along with others when the litter is kept together."
The society depends on foster volunteers to provide love and care to animals that are too young to be sterilized and adopted. Kittens that can eat on their own, usually around 4 weeks of age, are sent home with foster volunteers. Those who are not able to make a long-term commitment to volunteering find that fostering kittens is a way to help animals without leaving home.
Training, carriers and kitten food are supplied by the humane society for two to four weeks of hands-on care that these heroes find rewarding and fun.
"When we have new litters that require extra care, we phone the foster volunteers and try to place the kittens that same day," said Vierra.
Foster volunteers watch the kittens grow from sleepy fuzzballs to confident, curious youngsters, and it's easy to fall in love with them. Yet most foster volunteers find a way to let go of their charges when they are old enough to find an adoptive family.
"I get enormous pleasure out of helping kittens begin their lives," says volunteer Jennifer Kishimori. "Teaching them how to give and receive love is a wonderful gift. Though it's not easy, giving them up for adoption is just the next step in their young lives. There's a special joy in always having kittens. We take so many photos of their antics and lovable little faces."
When they are about 8 weeks old or weigh 2 pounds, it's time to bring the kittens back for sterilization and adoption. Fostered animals get so much handling, attention and love during their stays with their temporary families that they make ideal pets.
Kishimori volunteers for the Hawaiian Humane Society and has a group of her own called Cat Friends. She and another Cat Friends volunteer fostered 140 kittens last year, many of them feral kittens that, once socialized, became suitable pets.
"Kittens who are raised to be comfortable with humans make the best pet cats," she said. "It takes patience, commitment, time and more patience ... but it's worth it, and the truth is, it's lots of fun.
"Although I enjoy kittens, I'm a big advocate of spaying and neutering cats because there are not enough homes for all of them," said Kishimori. "Eventually I'd like to be out of the 'fostering kitten business' because all the cats on the island are sterilized -- I can dream, can't I?"
Cat Friends has assisted in the spaying and neutering of more than 1,600 cats in about three years, with the humane society providing the sugars at no charge.
Foster volunteers are a special type of people -- caring, selfless and dedicated to improving the lives of needy animals. If you would like to provide temporary love and care to kittens in your home, fill out a volunteer application and attend the training, which begins soon. Classes include a 90-minute orientation and an hour of foster-care training, usually on two different days. To do so:
>> Download the volunteer application from the Humane Society's Web site, www.hawaiianhumane.org, then choose "Volunteers" and "Application." >> Stop in at the shelter and request an application during adoption hours: noon to 8 p.m. Mondays to Fridays, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. >> Call Gayle Puou, coordinator of volunteers, at 946-2187, ext. 216, and request that a volunteer application be mailed to you.
"Pet Ohana" runs the first and third Fridays of the month.
The Hawaiian Humane Society is a nonprofit agency
dedicated to preventing cruelty to animals. It is at
2700 Waialae Ave. Call 946-2187.
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