Gracie was left to fend for herself outside when a wonderful human found her, gained her trust, and brought her inside—which is when she found out this sweet girl is expecting a litter of kittens, but guess what? At about one year old, Gracie is barely an adult. In fact, you might say she’s still just a baby herself! Now, as a Ten Lives’ cat, Gracie is being pampered in her foster home while she awaits the arrival of her kittens in a safe, loving environment. Once she gives birth and her babies are fully weaned, this very friendly girl will be available for adoption
As sweet as Gracie is, unfortunately her story is far too common. With the arrival of kitten season (which spans from approximately March to October), rescues see cats like Gracie and kittens like her soon-to-be-born babies each and every day. As cute as kitten season sounds, the reality is anything but—female cats can become pregnant as early as four to five months of age, and are able to give birth every four months. With each litter averaging 3-5 kittens, a single cat is capable of birthing hundreds of kittens in her lifetime! Many of these families never make it to shelters, either becoming feral or meeting much worse fates, and those that do put an enormous strain on a rescue’s resources, time, and space. Euthanasia is another terrible reality during kitten season, with certain shelters choosing to abort pregnancies to avoid overcrowding. Kittens are adorable, innocent beings, but as you can see, kitten season can be a devastating time.
That’s why spaying and neutering are such important procedures, but their benefits don’t end with reducing overpopulation! Did you know spayed females tend to live longer than their unspayed counterparts? This is partially due to the taxing, dangerous birthing process, but both male and female cats benefit from neutering and spaying; the risk of certain cancers and infections are reduced, some of which can be fatal. Plus, neutered males no longer spray, and tend to be calmer and get along better with other cats, too. Spayed females will no longer spray to attract mates, nor will they go into heat—which happens frequently throughout their breeding season. Spaying and neutering are safe procedures that help ensure cats live longer, healthier lives, all while working to reduce overpopulation in cats.
So, what can you do to help?
- Foster! Ten Lives is always looking for more foster homes, and all you need is a spare room and your love and time!
- Can’t foster? Donate! As a non-profit, we rely on donations to save lives. Check out our wish list for items we need, or make a tax-deductible donation here. Can’t donate?
- Volunteer!
- Raise awareness by sharing this page! And if you have cats at home, please, make sure they’re spayed and/or neutered!
To keep up with Gracie’s journey (and her babies!) follow Ten Lives on Instagram and Facebook!
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