When spring arrives, temperatures rise, trees begin to bud, and kittens begin to appear–a lot of them. To help meet the needs for new kitten foster homes, the SPCA of Texas is hosting a Kitten Shower and Foster Kitten Training Saturday, April 1 from Noon to 3 p.m. at our Dallas Animal Care Center (2400 Lone Star Drive, Dallas, 75212).

The free event will include an education session about fostering kittens of all ages, featuring a foster specific Q&A, and individuals can sign up to be a foster at the Shower. Games and refreshments will be provided.

Participants are asked to bring much-needed items as Shower gifts, such as kitchen scales, heating pads/blankets, miracle nipples, KMR kitten formula, fleece blankets, foldable playpens, snuggle puppies, cat toys and shallow bowls. If unable to attend the Shower in person, donations can be made via SPCA of Texas’ Amazon wish list.

The SPCA of Texas faces “Kitten Season” head on every year. The organization offers shelter, medical attention and adoption services to cats year-round, but when spring arrives the need increases by the hundreds. Therefore, SPCA of Texas needs to recruit new foster volunteers and expand the community-based network of care for the area’s homeless kittens. This network is critical to providing care for the greatest number of animals possible.

A small act of compassion can make a life-saving difference for vulnerable local kittens. ASPCA suggests that just one foster home could potentially help 20 kittens each kitten season.

“We cannot help every kitten that walks into our doors without the help of the community,” said SPCA of Texas Foster Program Supervisor Kasey Berry. “We need foster homes who are willing to take in kittens and provide them a temporary home while they grow big and strong. During this Kitten Shower, we will provide training and get to know new and experienced fosters in the community. It is important for us to help them become more comfortable with caring for sweet kittens in need!

“People from all walks of life can be foster heroes and we are amazed by the backgrounds of people who come through our doors wanting to help,” Berry added. “We tend to see a higher number of young adults and retired individuals who want to foster, I think because both of these groups tend to have a little extra time on their hands and a passion to help those in need.”