Kitten season survival guide

Ever get the feeling it’s raining cats and kittens? Kitten season is a gruelling time of year.

So if you are in need of a little inspurration to get cats and kittens moving on to their new homes, read on. We’ve got the whole kitten caboodle of ideas, tips and tricks to help you survive kitten season!

• Kittens are oh-so cute, but boy can they be tricky to photograph! We asked the very pawsome photographer K9Kate for her pro tips for taking squee-worthy kitten pics - check them out here. And be sure to share your kitten pics and profiles with us on Facebook!

• Have some fun with creative promotion ideas to help entice adopters. The ASPCA have loads of great examples - take a look here.

• Is it time to revamp your procedures to make the rehoming process a more adopter-friendly one? Check out the team at Operation Cat who have done just that!

• For an adorable event idea, why not throw a kitten shower? You could also ask your supporters to throw their own showers to support your group, to collect much-needed donations of kitty litter, kitten formula, food and toys. Check out this cute clip here for shower ideas.

• Are the quieter cats in your care getting overlooked for their more confident counterparts? Help shy cats get adopted by boosting their confidence with easy and fun target training.

• Not all cats are suited to being lap cats or house pets. But many would make excellent ‘barn cats’ or ‘backyard buddies’. Check out the Humane Society’s fab flyer for inspiration, and consider some out-of-the-square sources of adoption interest such as horse-riding schools and wineries.

• Understanding your organisation’s capacity for care and minimising the length of stay is vital for cats in a shelter environment. It’s also relevant to cats in foster care, as the sooner those cats find a home, the sooner you can move on to help the next furry feline in need. Read more from the folks behind the Million Cat Challenge.

• Encourage adopters to take home a winning mum and bub combo. The RSPCA South Australia got noticed internationally with their ‘No Mum Left Behind’ campaign, where people were encouraged to ‘Adopt the Baby. Get the Babysitter Free’. Brilliant!