Baby kittens can come into RSPCA care at all different stages of development and in different health conditions.
At the start of spring, when breeding is at its highest, a lot of strays are found abandoned by their mums and left to fend for themselves on the streets.
Normal parental duties like feeding, toileting and cleaning are no longer able to be managed naturally by the kittens’ parents, so human foster carers are the next in line to help the little ones through to adoption.
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It is a tough job for the RSPCA foster care team when it comes to coordinating the huge influx of baby kittens needing care amongst the small number of volunteers available to care for them, especially considering an experienced carer can only manage three to five kittens at a time.
State Foster Care Coordinator, Julie Herbert, says, “During the main kitten breeding season we normally get around 30 or so volunteer foster carers for the baby kittens, but we really need more around the 60 mark.
“Baby kittens really need a foster carer with exceptional attention to detail, not only with keeping records but also in knowing the animal and any changes it goes through. They must be fully available for regular feeding, and most importantly, passionate about baby kittens."
