JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – On Tuesday, the station got to meet Delta, a lively tuxedo kitten currently in foster care with the Jacksonville Humane Society (JHS). We spoke with Sam Ahnen from JHS on kitten season and how the feline population is booming across Jacksonville.
Kitten Season is Here—What That Means for the Community
Every year, shelters brace themselves for “kitten season,” a period when unspayed cats give birth in large numbers. As adorable as they are, this influx places a heavy burden on shelters and foster networks.
Sam from JHS emphasized the importance of the community’s role during this time.
“We usually remind folks: don’t kidnap kittens. If you find a litter, wait and watch—mom is probably just out getting food.”
CASA: A Smarter Way to Help Stray Kittens
This year, JHS introduced a helpful new method for assessing whether a kitten needs intervention. It’s called CASA, which stands for:
- Condition – Does the kitten appear sick or injured?
- Age – Is the kitten still nursing or able to eat on its own?
- Situation – Is the location dangerous, like near a road?
- Ability – Are you able to provide help, or should you call the shelter?
In many cases, the best course of action is to leave the kittens with their mother—especially if they’re healthy and safe.
Meet Delta: One of 600 Kittens in Foster Care
Delta, an energetic black-and-white kitten, is one of approximately 600 kittens currently in foster homes through JHS. Fostering offers these animals a chance to grow up in a loving environment, outside the stress of a shelter.
“Even if you can’t adopt, fostering is a fantastic way to help,” Sam said. “We provide all the supplies—you just provide the love.”
From tiny bottle babies that need feeding every two hours, to more independent kittens like Delta, there are many ways to get involved.
How You Can Help
You can make a difference during kitten season by:
- Fostering a kitten or litter
- Adopting from JHS
- Volunteering your time
- Donating supplies or funds
JHS offers volunteer hours, full support for foster parents, and plenty of opportunities to match your lifestyle.
Ready to lend a paw? Visit jackshumane.org to learn more about how you can help kittens like Delta find their purr-fect home.
The Jacksonville Humane Society (JHS) is a dedicated, independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Jacksonville, Florida. Each year, JHS provides compassionate care for nearly 8,000 dogs and cats while offering an array of vital community programs. These include pet adoption services, resources for pet owners, support for lost and found animals, veterinary outreach initiatives, and engaging youth programs.
As a non-government-funded organization, JHS relies entirely on the generosity of supporters to sustain its mission. Contributions enable JHS to provide life-saving care and resources to pets and the people who cherish them.
Mission Statement The Jacksonville Humane Society is committed to delivering care, comfort, and compassion to animals in need. Through community engagement, JHS strives to end the euthanasia of abandoned and orphaned shelter animals, fostering a kinder future for pets and their families.