PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Calling all kitten lovers — the Pennsylvania SPCA in North Philadelphia is overflowing with felines. Foster families are needed to temporarily care for the critters until they're old enough for adoption.
It's kitten season and combined with several rescues recently, the PSPCA's shelter is filled to bursting. The kittens can't be adopted yet because they weigh less than 2 lbs. or aren't old enough to be spayed or neutered.
"Basically, we will try to place any underage kitten into foster care," said Maddie Bernstein, the PSPCA's foster and rescue coordinator, "any kitten that is with a mom, like a nursing mom with a litter of kittens, sick kittens. So even if they are a little bit older but they are too sick to undergo surgery, they will go into foster care."
Bernstein said fosters are necessary as kittens need temporary places where they can grow and become socialized.
"Anyone who is interested in fostering a kitten at all, even if they don't know if they are a candidate, should sign up, because we will be able to find a kitten that is a good match for them," she said.
"For example you can take home a mom and babies, and you can be out of the house all day because the mom does all of the work for you," explained Bernstein.
"All you need is a little spot to put her in where she can be comfortable and have a quiet space by herself to care for her babies. Bottle baby kittens who are orphans, they are a lot more time intensive. You have to feed them every couple of hours make sure they are eating well, gaining weight."
About 50 kittens are currently with fosters. A video orientation about kitten care is offered, and the supplies needed are sent home with you.
An application to foster at can be found at PSPCA.org.