Manatee County kittens need foster and permanent homes

Janet Narcum said she’s too old to adopt a kitten, so instead she visits them at Manatee County’s Cat Town. 

“Usually when seniors adopt a kitten, they end up passing away and the kittens end up back here,” she said while cuddling a tiny, black kitten. “I socialize with them and get my loving from them.” 

Narcum is a devoted and enthusiastic volunteer at Cat Town, Manatee County's adoption center. 

The county could use a few more loving volunteers like Narcum to foster kittens since “kitten season” is in full swing. 

Michael-Chase Strollo, the communications coordinator for Manatee County, explained that when the days get longer, cats go into heat and breed more. In Florida, kitten season can last from the spring through November. 

The request for fosters became more urgent June 27 when the county reported an outbreak of panleukopenia at the Bishop Animal Shelter.

Photo by Lesley Dwyer

Panleukopenia, also known as feline distemper, is a highly contagious and often deadly viral disease found in cats. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, fever, lethargy and sudden death. No cats at Cat Town were affected by the outbreak.

The county is encouraging cat owners to keep their cats inside and get them vaccinated. Panleukopenia spreads through bodily fluids, contaminated surfaces, litter boxes, food and water bowls, and clothing and hands.

Strollo said the numbers of cats under Manatee County's care will change from day to day because private shelters will often pick up some of the animals rescued by the county, but as of June 27, about 50 cats and kittens were in quarantine at Bishop Animal Shelter while another 25 cats at the Bishop Animal Shelter needed foster homes.

Some of the kittens are being treated for upper respiratory infections and require the administration of oral and eye medications. 

The county provides everything a foster needs, including medications, kitten milk replacer, bottles and a heating pad. Kittens under four weeks old can’t maintain their own body temperature. 

County staff members also provide training, so fosters know how to care for a kitten whether it is sick or well. 

The fosters learn lessons such as a kitten should be on its belly, instead of its back, when bottle feeding. And never squeeze the bottle. If squeezed, the bottle can force milk into the kitten’s lungs. 

Most of the kittens are beyond the bottle phase. They just need temporary homes until they can be neutered and sent to Cat Town, which is when they reach 8 weeks or two pounds. 

“It’s really not a long commitment,” Strollo said. “What’s great about kitten season being over the summer months is that school’s out. It’s the perfect time to introduce the knowledge and education to your kids about what it’s like to take care of a pet.”

Adoption is another option. As of June 25, the county had 73 cats and kittens available for adoption. However, Strollo said the kittens don’t typically last more than a few days before someone wants to take them home. 

Adopted kittens and cats are sent to their new home with wet food, dry food and a couple toys.

Strollo said it will take a cat about three months to acclimate to its new environment. 

At Cat Town, the cats and kittens are separated or socialized according to their personal preferences. 

Miss Ethel, a domestic shorthair cat, gets a spacious cage all to herself. She was spread out on a lounger hanging from the window.

“She’s earned the right,” Strollo said. “At 17 years old, she’s our eldest. She loves her window sill, so this is her space. She’s human friendly when she wants to be, but she’s not necessarily cat friendly.” 

Photo by Lesley Dwyer

The kittens and the cats are separated. The older cats that are social are kept in enclosures with cat doors so they can access the outside “catios.” 

Every animal the county has under its care goes to the Bishop Animal Center first for an intake processing. Bishop Animal Center has temporarily stopped cat intakes for two weeks to contain the outbreak. 

During a routine intake, the animal is medically assessed, but it’s also socially assessed. By the time a cat gets to Cat Town, the staff is already aware of whether or not that cat will play well with others. 

Strollo said kitten season is a good reminder as to the importance of neutering pets.