Kitten Season: Ways to Help
Beginning each spring, East Bay SPCA’s animal intake reflects a growing need from our community: the care of hundreds of newborn kittens without homes. In spring, summer, and well into fall, we focus heavily on supporting neonate kittens, young cats, and even pregnant mothers that need medical care, behavioral support, and loving homes.
As kitten season ramps up, there are a number of actions our community can take to support our efforts and save lives:
Short- and long-term foster caretakers are hugely impactful in getting cats ready for their eventual homes. Newborn kittens need bottle-feeding, careful attention, and a warm, quiet space to grow in, so our team can focus on even more animals coming through our doors.
We make it easy for the community to pitch in by listing items needed for our fosters and shelter animals on our Amazon Wishlist. You can also give financially at eastbayspca.org/donate. In 2025, longtime volunteer Dr. Susan Bradshaw and her wife Katherine Ratcliff donated the funds for new, more spacious cat condos at our Oakland shelter – a major win for the felines in our care.
Opening your heart and home to a feline friend saves a life, makes room for another animal to receive care, and brings joy, comfort, and companionship for years to come. Our Oakland and Dublin adoption centers are open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday.
If you’re already a cat parent, but you haven’t had the opportunity to spay or neuter your companion, now’s the time! By preventing unwanted litters, you’re supporting the health and happiness of all East Bay cats. Our Oakland Spay/Neuter Surgery Center is on a mission to make this critical surgery convenient and accessible to all pet parents.
While some feral cats require human intervention, it’s important to know when to act. Leaving kittens in the care of their mother is preferable to separating them after birth, unless the mother is missing or the kittens are injured or ill. Wait 4-6 hours for a mother cat to return if the kittens are under 4 weeks old (ears not unfolded yet, not yet walking confidently), and up to 8-12 hours if they are older (unfolded ears and walking confidently), giving them plenty of space in the meantime. When it comes to adult cats, we’re here to accept injured or ill strays, and have limited Trap-Neuter-Return appointments for San Leandro and Livermore residents at our spay/neuter clinic.