The Animal Welfare Department in Albuquerque is urging the public to assist with the increasing number of orphaned kittens arriving at city shelters. The department is seeking support and cooperation from residents who come across kittens in need.
"If you find a kitten or a litter of kittens, Animal Welfare Department is asking for your help and providing resources and information on what to do," stated the department.
In situations where individuals encounter young kittens without their mother, the department advises patience and observation before assuming abandonment. They recommend waiting and observing from a distance for a period to ascertain if the mother is absent temporarily.
"A great way to determine if momma cat is coming back without you seeing her is to take some regular all-purpose flour and sprinkle it around the area where the kittens are," the department suggested.
For those willing to contribute but unable to foster, the department encourages contacting them for guidance. They can be reached via email at [email protected] for fostering inquiries and at [email protected] for additional assistance on caring for kittens.
"If you determine the kittens are in danger or truly abandoned, you can help save kitten lives and keep your local shelters from reaching capacity by becoming a foster parent," emphasized the Animal Welfare Department.
Furthermore, individuals unable to foster can make arrangements by calling 311 to bring the kittens to the shelter. In cases where kittens are weak or have not eaten in 3 hours, immediate action is advised, and individuals are directed to head to the East side shelter location admissions entrance for assistance.
The department also provided guidelines for judging a kitten's age, ranging from under one week to 7 weeks, with corresponding developmental milestones and care recommendations for each stage.
