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ST. GEORGE — As the weather gets warmer, an influx of stray cats give birth, marking the beginning of "kitten season."
Kitten season is arriving early this year, prompted by a milder winter, leading to an uptick in phone calls from concerned citizens to the Humane Society of Utah about stray kittens and cats they have found, according to a news release issued by the nonprofit.
"Kitten season brings an influx of kittens into our community, but discovering a litter does not necessarily mean they are in distress," Juli Ulvestad, pet resource director for the nonprofit, said in the media release.
Ulvestad emphasized the importance of understanding the needs of these young felines.
"In the first few weeks of life, kittens' best chance of survival is with their mother," she said.
In most cases, the nonprofit advises the public to leave stray kittens where they are found. This advice can be difficult to heed after so many years of hearing that kittens should be brought to the shelter, but data shows that kittens have a much better chance of survival if left where their mother cat can care for them.
