PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Last month alone, the Animal Care and Control Team of Philadelphia (ACCT Philly) had 900 cats and kittens go through its North Philadelphia facility. There are more than 200 cats and kittens up for adoption right now.
Sarah Barnett, ACCT Philly's executive director, said kitten season has been extended over the years because of warmer weather.
"What used to be a three month kitten season… it's kitten season May through August or something now it has turned into February To September,” she said. “It’s getting longer and longer each year because of course the temperatures are warmer so of course they are able to go out and have litters and have them survive and everything a lot longer than they used to."
Currently, short and long term fosters are needed.
"With cats in particular, fostering for a short term can actually make a very significant difference and literally save a life not just with the animal that you are fostering but of the cage that you are opening up at the animal shelter for other cats to take," said Barnett.
She also said to make sure if you have a cat, to get it spayed and neutered.
"There are resources in the city to actually get that done for free. And you have low cost clinics available too," said Barnett.
She also shouted out the greater Philadelphia community for stepping up in past instances of overcrowding with dogs. At the time, dogs were being euthanized for space in the shelters. For cats, that’s not the case this time around.
“We managed to avoid that with cats and kittens and really only euthanize cats and kittens that have medical or very significant behavioral issues,” said Barnett.