Spring is almost here, along with blooming trees and flowers you might also start seeing kittens everywhere!
According to Brainly.com, cats begin to have kittens at just six months of age, and an unspayed cat can have five litters a year with an average of five kittens per litter. Some say that an unspayed female cat and her offspring can produce up to 420,000 kittens in just seven years. That is a whole lot of kittens! Sadly, many of these kittens end up abandoned, sick, or in overcrowded rescues that don’t have the space or resources to care for them all.
So, what’s the solution? Two words: spay and neuter.
Spaying (for females) and neutering (for males) aren’t just about preventing unwanted litters. These simple surgeries also help pets live healthier and happier. Spayed female cats are less likely to develop certain cancers and won’t go into heat, which means no more yowling in the middle of the night and no more tomcats at your door. Neutered males are less likely to spray (saving your furniture), fight, or run away in search of a mate. And most importantly, it reduces the number of homeless animals struggling to survive on the streets of San Saba County.
The good news? San Saba County Friends of Animals offers a Spay Neuter Assistance Program and a Trap Neuter and Release Program.
What is the SNAP program?
SNAP is a program that helps low-income families to spay or neuter their pets at a low cost. How does it work? If you are a low-income family, go to our website SanSabaAnimals.com and click on the forms tab. Fill out the SNAP form. You will then be placed on our wait list. When it is your turn, we will call you. You will then call San Saba Animal Hospital to make your appointment. You will pay a $30 copay to the Vet at the time of service, we pay the difference. Your pet does have to be up to date on their rabies. If they are not, you will also pay the Vet for the cost of the vaccine (approximately $19).
What is our TNR Program? TNR is for feral cats. How does it work? You will also go to our website SanSabaAnimals.com and click on the forms tab. Fill out the TNR form and you will be placed on our wait list. When it is your turn, we will loan you a trap and help show you how to trap your cat. You will then take the cat to the Vet, and we cover the cost of their spay or neuter and their rabies shot (you pay nothing).
If you love animals as much as we do, there’s another way you can help—consider fostering! Taking in kittens (even for a few weeks) as a foster helps keep them safe and gives them a better chance of finding loving homes. For information on fostering, go to SanSabaAnimals.com and click on the foster tab or call (325) 372-PETS.
So, before kitten season gets completely out of hand, let’s all do our part. Spread the word, San Saba County, spay and neuter your pets, and maybe even open your home to a foster kitten or two. For additional information or for questions, call (325) 372-PETS.