Napa Kittens Could Use Your Help

NAPA COUNTY, CA — It's the time of year when thousands of kittens in California need extra support. Kitten season is upon us, and with it comes the increased need for assistance at local shelters and rescue organizations.

We know how cute an "onslaught of kittens" sounds but these groups face significant challenges from an influx of kittens. That's why Concord-based Pet Food Express runs a month-long awareness campaign in April to support 83 local nonprofit rescues and shelters, including Napa County Animal Shelter and Adoption Center.

Wait, What Is Kitten Season?

Kitten season occurs each year, usually spring through summer, when most kittens are born, and subsequently surrendered to shelters and rescues. This schedule is a relationship between cats’ biology, weather patterns and daylight patterns.

In short, cats' heat cycles correspond to the amount of daylight each day. When there are 14-16 hours of daylight, cats produce less melatonin, affecting the part of their brains that triggers their heat cycles. This leads to mating, and a short two months later: kittens.

Unfortunately, because all the cats in one area experience the same daylight and weather patterns, they are all on a similar schedule and this is where it can become an issue. Shelters and rescues can't keep up with the sudden influx of kittens and have started a movement to promote fostering, adopting, and donating before kitten season starts, to handle the onslaught of kittens.

In most areas of the country, kitten season is connected with a specific time of year. While this is also true for California, the temperate climate means kitten season may occur twice a year—generally March and June/July— or in some areas even be sustained nearly all year round.

Ways To Help

Through April 28, community members wishing to participate in the kitten season campaign can go online to Petfood.express/kitten-season or walk into any of the 66 Pet Food Express stores.

Pet Food Express outlines three impactful ways to affect thousands of California kittens in need of a new home:

1. Adopt! Open your home to a kitten or cat. Pet Food Express will help animal lovers find a local rescue or shelter. Plus, the company will provide suggestions on the best food and care products to give the kitten to support a longer, healthier life.
2. Foster. Not ready for a long-term commitment? Join Pet Food Express’ Rescue Reserves —a database of foster families — to become a foster home and get matched with a local rescue with needy kittens. Once a person or family signs up, their information is available to the network of over 139 rescue and shelter partners through the Rescue Reserves program.
3. Give. 100 percent of your financial contribution goes to purchase supplies like food, litter and toys for local rescues and shelters to continue their amazing work of robust foster, adopt and spay/neuter programs.

"Kitten season puts serious strain on California’s animal rescue network from April through November," said Megan Kniepkamp, community manager for Pet Food Express. "The single biggest way to help is by fostering. Every pet in a foster home means that two lives are saved: the pet in the foster home and the pet who takes their place in the shelter."

In 2023, Pet Food Express collected and donated over $217,430 in products to Napa County Animal Shelter and other local organizations. This year, the retailer aims to make an even bigger impact.