The team at Blue Cross in Bromsgrove has seen a rise in kitten admissions this October, including a litter called Boo, Casper, Spirit, Spook and Mertle and Pumpkin, who is part of another litter currently at the centre.

The charity has cared for 25 kittens in the past three weeks which is unusual at this time of year as a typical ‘kitten season’ is usually spring and summer when the weather is warmer. Caroline Oram, Animal Welfare Assistant at Blue Cross in Bromsgrove said:

“Our Halloween kitties came from an unplanned litter and a litter of strays and we have also admitted several stray pregnant mums who gave birth on site. We haven’t seen these kinds of numbers of kittens admitted in autumn before.

"We wonder if it is because many owners weren’t able to neuter their pets during the pandemic or perhaps took on a kitten in lockdown and weren’t aware that very young cats, still kittens themselves, can become pregnant.”
 
The Halloween unplanned litter are 11-weeks-old and Pumpkin and his four litter mates are nine-weeks-old and were admitted to the centre after they were found as strays without their mum. At around seven-months-old, Mochi was barely out of kittenhood herself when she gave birth to seven kittens.

The team at the centre had to help the young cat with feeding so many and very sadly a tiny weakling kitten was too weak to survive. They have also been busy taking a litter of four six-week-old kittens home with them to hand feed them after they were rejected by their mum. Caroline added:

“In the days up to Halloween we hope to find all the spookily named and other kittens and their mums a new home. We hope owners make sure their pets are neutered as soon as they are old enough and vets can make appointments for the procedure.

"Remember, very young cats can become pregnant and siblings may mate if not neutered.”
 
To find our more about pets needing a home from Blue Cross in Bromsgrove, or to make a donation towards their care, visit bluecross.org.uk.