KANSAS CITY, Mo. – With the end of winter in sight, a new season is on the horizon. It's not just spring though. Kitten season is right around the corner.
From early spring to early fall, local animal shelters see an influx of kittens – often receiving multiple litters a day. The shelters don’t have room for them all, so they look to foster homes for help.
“This program is critical to our life-saving efforts here in Kansas City,” said Tori Fugate, with KC Pet Project. “These kittens, when they come in, they are susceptible to illness a lot more than adult cats. We try to get them out of the shelter as quick as possible.”
Fugate said foster home programs help give kittens a fighting chance.
“There are some shelters across the nation that don’t have programs like this,” said Fugate. “In Kansas City, we’re really proud of the fact that we do have this program.”
Fugate said over 1,400 cats and kittens were fostered last year. Foster homes help give the kittens and their momma cats personalized attention that cannot be adequately provided in shelter environments.
“It’s a huge need,” she said. “And it’s a wonderful opportunity.
KC Pet Project has a foster home orientation seminar coming up to cover the different opportunities available to anyone interested to opening their homes to some kittens.
Topics include:
- Pregnant moms
- Nursing moms
- Bottle babies
- Kittens, ages 0-3 weeks (feeding and health)
- Kittens, ages 3-6 weeks (feeding, socialization, health)
- Kittens, ages 6-8 weeks (feeding and socialization)
- Common medical questions
- Q&A
The next orientation will be held at KC Pet Project’s Canine Resource Center at 6425 Stadium Drive in Kansas City, Mo. on Thursday, Feb. 22 at 6 p.m.
Other orientation opportunities will be posted to KC Pet Project’s Facebook page.
The shelter is also looking for donations ahead of kitten season. Though Fugate notes the requested items are a bit interesting, they are important in taking care of the kittens.
"We need items like kitchen scales, cat litter, and warming discs," she said.
Additional items can be found on their Amazon wish list.
Along with volunteer opportunities, the shelter is looking to hire several paid positions across the Metro area as well.
"We do have full time and part time positions open,” says Fugate. ”We're looking for compassionate people that want to make a difference."
Employment opportunities range from positions on the canine and feline care teams to veterinarian technicians.
A full list of open positions, as well as applications, can be found on KC Pet Project’s website. Applications can also be submitted at the shelter at
The shelter has openings on their canine and feline care teams, as well as several other positions.
Applications can be submitted online or in person at the shelter.
