Contribute to our Fall Kitten Fund!

Kitten season hasn’t slowed down, and we could use your help

Kitten season usually shows up each year in early spring, and slows down throughout the summer. This year seems different, as our shelter continues to take in mama cats and kittens and we could use your help. Since we held our Kitten Shower fundraiser in May, we’ve taken in about 50 new kittens. The sheer number of felines needing our help is an indication of an overpopulation issue that’s impacting all animal rescues in the Greater Toronto Area. We’re doing what we can to ease the burden on municipal shelters and are taking in kittens and their moms, ensuring they’re all spayed and neutered. This helps stop the cycle of unchecked breeding, which then helps keep older cats off euthanasia lists. But the costs are starting to add up. 

That’s why we’ve created our Kitten Fund to help cover the costs of these tiny fluffballs and their moms. 

Kittens can be expensive

Each of our kittens and their moms require extra care, including food and vaccinations, and will be spayed or neutered before they can be adopted. The average expense for a healthy kitten in the first 12 weeks of their life is approximately $600. This is slightly lower than in years past, as we’ve worked with our vet partners to bring down costs for kitten care. But a mother cat and four kittens can still cost more than $3,500 on average, depending on their health and any special needs.

Sometimes, the costs can be even higher, such as when we get a supersized litter. An average litter of kittens is 4 to 5, but Zara came to us with 8 kittens! We took Zara and her family in after her owner was overwhelmed with multiple other cats in the home already. 

This is a situation we see often, and the best way to prevent unexpected litters is through spaying or neutering your cat. Since kittens as young as 4-5 months can become pregnant, a situation can get out of control quickly when cats are left unfixed. 

We understand not everyone can afford the cost of a spay or neuter. If this is the case, there are programs available that provide free or subsidized services for eligible pet owners, such as Toronto Animal Services, the Snyp Truck, which is a city run program, or clinics provided by organizations such as the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or the Toronto Humane Society. 

How you can help

1. Donate today

Make a donation to our Kitten Fund using the form above and your dollars will go toward our kittens and their moms, freeing up other funds for the many other deserving cats and dogs in our care. 

2. Sponsor a litter

Want to sponsor a litter? We have several litters in our care right now and you could ensure all of their needs are covered by making a donation to cover the estimated cost of the whole bundle of kittens. Reach out to find out how. 

You can also sponsor one of our individual kittens. With an average cost of $600, your donation would cover their food, supplies, two sets of core vaccinations, two sets of deworming, and spay or neuter surgery. 

3. Adopt a Cat or Kitten

Give a feline a new forever home. All of our cats are vaccinated, dewormed, microchipped, SNAP tested and are spayed or neutered. They have received vet care so adopters have all the necessary information about a cat’s health at the time of adoption. They’re all ready to find a forever home and are just waiting for the perfect person to love.

Thank you for always supporting our small shelter with a big heart.