How we’re keeping cats happy and healthy this kitten season 

Spring is in the air, and so is the sound of tiny meows. Every year as temperatures warm and flowers begin to bloom, the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society braces for one of the busiest times of the year: kitten season.  

Why spring means more cats 

Cats are seasonally polyestrous, meaning they go through multiple reproductive cycles per year triggered by increasing daylight and warmer temperatures. As the days grow longer in late winter and early spring, female cats begin coming into heat more frequently, making April one of the peak months for feline births 

A single unspayed female cat can have two to three litters per year, with an average of four to six kittens per litter. One female cat can produce as many as 120 kittens in her lifetime! 

By the time April rolls around, our teams are already fielding calls from residents who have discovered litters of kittens in their yards, garages, and neighbourhoods. 

What kitten season looks like at our centres 

During kitten season, our animal centres across Ontario can see intake numbers spike. Neonatal kittens (those under four weeks old who still need to be bottle-fed) require round-the-clock care. Older kittens need socialization, vaccinations, and monitoring for common illnesses like upper respiratory infections. Mother cats arriving with their litters need quiet, low-stress spaces to nurse and bond with their young. 

Our dedicated animal care staff and volunteers work tirelessly during this period, but the work doesn’t stop at medical care. We also focus on each cat’s emotional well-being. 

The role of hiding and perching 

Cats are both predator and prey by nature, and that dual identity shapes everything about how they experience the world. That’s why creating spaces that cater to cats’ natural instincts is so important. 

Two of the most essential behaviours for feline well-being are hiding and perching: 

Hiding: Cats are instinctively drawn to enclosed spaces as a source of security. Having a designated hiding spot gives cats a sense of control over their environment, dramatically reducing stress and anxiety levels. When a cat can choose whether it wants to be seen, rather than being exposed at all times, it makes a significant difference in how quickly they settle in. 

Perching: Elevation is everything to a cat. High perches allow them to survey their surroundings, assess their environment, and satisfy their instinct to watch for potential threats. Perching also provides mental stimulation and physical exercise, keeping cats engaged and active, even while they await their loving home. 

A safe haven for every cat 

Thanks to a generous Pet Valu Companions for Change sponsorship, every cat in our care is provided with their very own cat cabin. These specially designed cardboard structures are more than just a cozy corner – they are built to support the hiding and perching behaviours that cats rely on to feel safe and in control. 

Each cat cabin gives our feline residents a private sanctuary within the busy shelter environment. Whether a cat wants to tuck themselves away and observe the world from the shadows or climb to the top and keep watch over their surroundings, the cabin accommodates both, giving cats the agency they need to decompress and feel at ease. 

Every kitten that comes through our doors this spring deserves warmth, safety, and a soft place to land while they await their loving home.  

If this information was helpful, please help us continue to educate about pet health and well-being by making a donation. As a registered charity that does not receive annual government funding, the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society depends on the generosity of donors to change the lives of animals in need.