8 Tips for Clinics to Prepare for Kitten Season

By United Spay Alliance

As spring approaches, so does the inevitable surge of kittens and mama cats into shelters, rescues, and veterinary clinics. To tackle this annual challenge head-on, we reached out to seasoned veterinarians and clinic managers for their insights on how to best prepare for the influx of feline arrivals. From stocking up on essential supplies to educating caregivers and promoting early spaying and neutering, their expertise provides invaluable guidance for ensuring the well-being of these vulnerable animals. Here’s a comprehensive look at their recommendations and strategies for navigating kitten season with compassion and efficiency:

1. Stock up on feeding essentials. Have plenty of KMR (kitten formula), tubes for tube feeding, and miracle nipples for feeding bottle babies on hand to ensure your team can care for hungry kittens.
2. Prepare for more transfusions. Parasites (like fleas) are especially common this time of year, and kittens are more susceptible to becoming anemic. Double check your inventory and prepare to do even more transfusions than you normally would.
3. Get ready for UTI. Because kittens’ immune systems are still developing, they are more susceptible to infections, like urinary tract infections. Have medications like Clavamox and Doxycycline on hand to treat sick kittens. 
4. Know who to call. Get in touch with local rescues or foster networks so you know who to call when kittens come through your door and need someplace to go. If you can, work with your volunteers and fosters to ensure they have some fostering essentials on-hand so they are ready to care for kittens when the need arises.
5. Educate trappers and caregivers. Answer questions and address concerns. For instance, make sure they know that sooner is better than later when it comes to spaying and neutering. Kittens can get pregnant as early as four months of age, and mama cats can get pregnant just four weeks after giving birth! Make sure they know that mama cats who are nursing can be safely spayed and returned to their outdoor home; mama cats will continue to lactate and kittens can continue nursing. Community Cats Podcast has excellent information for trappers and caregivers here. 
6. Spread the word about Feline Fix by Five. Talk with your clients and pet parents about the best time to spay/neuter kittens – before five months! Talk to other veterinarians and clinics about their spay/neuter policies, and ensure they know the endless benefits of spaying and neutering kittens before more unwanted litters are born. Not sure how to start the conversation? Check out our Learning Library or Marketing Resources for ready-to-share videos, graphics, and other great information.
7. Implement high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter (HQHVSN) techniques to optimize efficiency. Maintain safe outcomes while cutting down on the overall length of surgeries. Unfamiliar with HQHVSN surgeries? Consider attending one of our wet labs, or check out the spay/neuter training resources here.
8. Let your community know that you’re a resource. Do you offer low-cost spay/neuter services? Make sure your clinic is listed on our nationwide directory! Not listed? Fill out the form here to add your clinic today.