Every year Palm Beach County Department of Public Safety’s Division of Animal Care and Control (ACC) brace themselves for “kitten season”, otherwise known as feline breeding season, as they receive hundreds of kittens from spring to fall.

When people find kittens outdoors without their mom, their first instinct is to bring them inside or rush them to an animal shelter. Now, in the peak of kitten season, ACC warns well intentioned, good Samaritans that picking up litters of kittens may be hurting them more than helping them.

When kittens are separated from their mother, their chances of survival drop significantly. In most cases, newborn litters of kittens don’t need human intervention. The best thing is to keep the mother and kittens together to ensure the kittens’ best chances of survival. Mom’s milk has antibodies that help them to grow and like any mom, she teaches her kittens important survival skills. Once kittens are eating on their own and weigh 2 pounds, then they can be safely removed for socialization and adoption.

Remember to ask yourself these questions when you encounter kittens:

1. Where is mom?
2. Can I see her?
1. Yes! – Leave food and water at a distance. Wait until the kittens are 2 pounds or 2 months old before bringing them and their mom to a veterinarian or to your local animal shelter to be vaccinated and spayed or neutered.
2. No? – Watch for 24 hours. If mom does not arrive, contact a local animal shelter for advice.

PBC Animal Care & Control is located at 7100 Belvedere Road in West Palm Beach, just west of the Florida Turnpike. For more information, please call (561) 233-1200 or visit the website, www.pbcgov.com/animal