Navigating Kitten Season: A Guide for Prospective Cat Owners

Kitten Season is a term used to describe the period of which cats predominantly breed and give birth. Although cats can breed nearly all year long, Kitten Season tends to run from April to late Autumn. During the summer months, cat shelters, such as The Cat's Protection, tend to see a higher number of pregnant cats and kittens coming through the doors, all needing new homes.

During the winter months cat shelters usually experience a brief respite with fewer 'out of season' litters being born. However, during the winter months, there are still plenty of adult cats looking for a home.

Cats can become sexually mature from just four months old which is why it is so important to get them neutered at this age, to prevent them from becoming pregnant with unwanted litters. From four months, cats will experience heat cycles with active signs such as restlessness and calling, lasting a couple of days and reoccurring every few weeks during the breeding season.

A cat coming into season can vary depending on the region and the climate of that given year. Cats coming into heat is often due to the increased daylight hours of the spring and summer. This signals warmer weather thus more availability of food for the mother to provide for herself and her kittens.

Females in season will seek out a mate during this period, with unneutered males already on the search! If there is more than one male in the vicinity, the female can mate more than once in a day. This gives her a higher chance of reproductive success and can mean her litter has several different fathers.

There’s no doubt kittens are irresistibly cute bundles of joy. Things will never be the same again once a furry little ball of energy enters your life. Watching them grow up with you and your family is an absolute delight.

What people sometimes don’t realise, however, is that for all those big eyes and playful paws, kittens can be a lot of work. They don’t come with an off-switch! Just like babies, kittens are hugely demanding of your time. They need four feeds a day, countless litter changes and constant entertainment.

Having a kitten is also a bit of a leap into the unknown because their characters and social skills are still developing, a kitten’s personality can change with time.

It’s worth thinking carefully whether an adult cat might suit your needs better. Not only are they more self-reliant (and so can be left alone for longer), but they’re also more likely to respect your home rather than climb up the curtains!

You can get a proper sense of an adult cat’s personality and so decide whether they’ll fit your family – certainly, if it’s a homely, lap cat you’re after, you’re much better off with an adult.

Sandra James

Owner & Founder

The Cat Butler was set up by Sandra James in recognition of the fact that a stay in a cattery can be unsettling for many cats and also their owners.