'Kitten Season' Has Local Shelters Preparing for A Wave of Unwanted Litters

Looking for a furry friend to add to your life? If a cat is what you fancy, local animal shelters would be glad to hear from you right about now.

Spring is the beginning of “kitten season,” according to the Humane Society of the United States, when cats give birth and, unfortunately, shelters and rescue groups across the country get flooded with litters of unwanted kittens.

“We’re getting ready for it,” says Mariya Anton, manager of the Chula Vista Animal Care Facility, which provides animal control services for Lemon Grove.

Currently, the shelter is housing about 30 cats, most of which are adults.

“That’s going to change in the next couple of weeks,” Anton says. During kitten season, which peaks in early summer, the facility can take in from four to 14 kittens each day.

Anton says one of the best things people can do to reduce the overpopulation problem is to spay or neuter your cat. To help in that endeavor, the facility is offering low-cost cat clinics along with SNAP—the Spay Neuter Action Project. You can have your cat spayed or neutered for just $10 through the program, Anton says.

For more information, call 619-525-3047 or 866-772-9287.

“It’s not going to solve the issue, but it really helps us with the issue,” Anton says.

Pet overpopulation has been a focus of the HSUS, which estimates 6 to 8 million dogs and cats enter shelters each year. Of that number, according to the HSUS, about half are euthanized.

How many cats are there in America? According to the 2010-2011 National Pet Owners Survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association, a pet industry group, 38.9 million homes in the United States count at least one cat as part of the family. The survey says there are 86.4 million cats residing in homes across the nation.

There are several animal shelters and rescue groups throughout the county. These are just a few nearby. Adoption fees vary, with facilities offering a lower fee for "senior" cats. Here's what you need to know about bringing a feline into the fold:

Chula Vista Animal Care Facility

Cat adoption fees: $65 for cats under 7 years of age, $25 for cats 7 and older, $25 for any cat if adopted by a senior citizen age 65 and older. All cats are spayed or neutered.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday.

Location: 130 Beyer Way, Chula Vista.

El Cajon Animal Shelter

Adoption fees: $80 for cats under 8 years old; $30 for cats 8 and older. All cats are spayed or neutered.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday.

Location: 1275 N. Marshall Ave., El Cajon.

San Diego Humane Society and SPCA

Adoption fees: $100 for kittens 6 months and younger; $75 for cats 7 months to 7 years old; $50 for cats older than 7. Fees are waived for cat buddy adoptions (adult cats only). The society offers a Seniors for Seniors program that pairs senior cats with senior citizens age 60 and older, and waives adoption fees.

Fill out the pre-adoption questionnaire.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Location: 5500 Gaines St., San Diego.