Kitten Season sounds wonderful, but it is a tragic situation. It’s the time of year when thousands of unwanted litters of kittens are born. These kittens often find their way to overcrowded shelters where they are at risk of being euthanized. Others roam the streets in search of food and shelter, leaving them subject to illness and injury. In some areas with warmer climates, Kitten Season can go on for months, resulting in more and more suffering.

This year, even though we have been dealing with a global pandemic, North Shore Animal League America has welcomed many injured cats, kittens, even mamas with their newborns, who were brought to municipal shelters after they were found as strays. The dedicated team at our Pet Health Centers continue to do all they can to give these loveable felines the best life possible.

Wolfie, a 10-month old brown tabby, came to us in late July from Animal Care Centers in Brooklyn, NY, with injuries believed to be from a fall from a significant height. When she was examined she was found to have a broken left femur, a fractured mandible and a broken hard palate. Wolfie was also found to have previously had a pneumothorax which indicated a ruptured lung, but this had clinically resolved by the time she arrived in our care. Wolfie’s doctors determined all of these injuries to be consistent with a high rise fall.

Doctors performed surgery on Wolfie, during which a plate and screws were used to repair the leg, her jaw was wired and the hard palate defect was repaired. This brave girl handled the surgery well, and remained in the care of our Pet Health Centers while she recovered. Wolfie will also spend some time in our Foster Care Program. Once in the perfect foster home Wolfie can fully recuperate before she is cleared for adoption.

At just 4-months old, Nicholas is a sweet and playful kitten who was also found as a stray in the city streets. He was severely dehydrated and malnourished. He had suffered a wound to his neck and his left eye had ruptured. While at the ACC, Nicholas’ left eye had to be removed. Soon, he was brought to the safety of our no-kill campus for additional medical attention to treat his injuries and address his low weight.  Today this spunky little fellow has been doing very well, so well that he charmed his way into a home of his own.

According to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) 6-8 million cats and dogs enter shelters every year. In many regions more than half of them are cats and 70% of them will be euthanized. Many are healthy and treatable, and could have made wonderful companion animals. For every Wolfie and Nicholas there are hundreds more at risk. As part of our no-kill mission, Animal League America is committed to reducing those numbers until the tragedy that is Kitten Season is ended for good.