Kitten season starts with one simple decision

Spring and summer bring longer days, warmer weather, and kittens. Lots of them. For animal rescue teams, like ourselves, “kitten season” is less a date in the diary than a wave that can continue for months: pregnant cats, nursing mothers and unwanted litters arriving when centres and foster homes are already under pressure.

Behind many of those litters is a familiar misconception: that a young cat is too small to become pregnant, that she should have one litter first, or that an unneutered male who wanders will somehow stay out of trouble. Cats can become sexually mature at just four months old. A fact that surprises many cat owners. That means a kitten can become pregnant while she still looks and behaves very much like a kitten herself.

The latest Cats Protection CATS Report 2025 estimates that 1.5 million cats in the UK (15% of the population) are not neutered. The most commonly reported reason is that owners want their cat to have kittens. “My cat doesn’t go outside” remains another common reason. Yet one open door, an unsecured window or an unexpected escape can be enough. We also hear many instances of cats living together mating, even when they are related.

For any cat that goes outdoors and roams freely, neutering is especially important. An unneutered male is more likely to travel in search of females, fight with other cats, become lost or be injured on the road. Fighting also increases the risk of bite wounds and infections such as feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).

The RSPCA advises neutering cats from four months of age, noting that it can reduce the urge to mate, roam and fight. For females, neutering prevents pregnancy and the physical demands and risks of carrying, giving birth to and raising a litter.

Neutering is not just about avoiding more kittens. It is preventive healthcare, responsible ownership and an act of kindness to the individual cat. It also protects a wider rescue system with finite kennel, cattery, foster and veterinary capacity. We receive an increasingly concerning number of phonecalls relating to pregnant cats, and abdanonded litters of kittens; we simply don't have space to care for them all which is devastating. Cat rescues in our area are all overwhelmed with demand, which is why we are calling on cat owners to help stem the surge through neutering. If you think you may be able to help out with offering a cat a home, whether that's through permanent adoption, or becoming a temporary foster carer, please get in touch with us via our website, or directly at enquiries@rspcablackpool.org.uk https://www.rspcablackpool.org.uk/fostering