Health & Fitness
Lilacs and Lots of Lively Litters!
What does that mean for Marlborough? It means that folks are calling us with cats having given birth under sheds and porches, nestled under lilac and other bushes, on breezeways...
I was getting my morning paper on Monday, and welcomed the scent of the lilacs just beginning to bloom. As a cat rescuer, the smell also tells me it is kitten season.
Folks may not know about kitten season — but for anyone who was trying to find a kitten in February, they will tell you that winter is NOT kitten season! For those who have been looking for kittens in August, they can tell you that it’s hard to go home with just one or two, because there are so many cute faces looking up at you!
Cats breed from the Winter Solstice to the Vestal Equinox — which means kittens are coming to adoptable age from May until January, roughly. In our region, we find that it’s actually a bit shorter, ending in late November, early December.
Find out what's happening in Marlboroughwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
What does that mean for Marlborough? It means that folks are calling us with cats having given birth under sheds and porches, nestled under lilac and other bushes, on breezeways — any place they can keep their babies safe from predators. We need to know about those cats and kittens, so we can care for them. It also means that this is the time to start looking for kittens and momcats to adopt. In fact, we will have 30+ kittens and moms ready for adoption in the coming three weeks!
Spring time is also time to take care of Marlborough’s stray cats — the males can be neutered, and the females spayed, even if they are still nursing. We provide free spay/neuter and vaccines for stray cats, through Tufts monthly shelter program. We help residents trap the cats using humane traps, and guide the cats safely through the surgery. The cats then come back to their territory, healthy, vaccinated, and no longer reproducing.
Find out what's happening in Marlboroughwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
(Just thinking about the lovely scent of lilacs makes me want to remind folks that once male cats are neutered, they no longer leave their ‘lovely scent’ outside!)
For more information on adopting cats and kittens, and our free stray spay/neuter program, please go to our web site: www.metrowestaware.org. You can also get an insiders look by friending us on Facebook!
