SAN ANTONIO — An urgent call for kitten fosters and adopters: San Antonio Pets Alive! is issuing an SOS plea for kitten foster homes.
Officials at the Alamo City shelter say that, despite tireless efforts, the fates of vulnerable kittens hangs in the balance with their shelter exceeding overnight capacity.
"Over the last six months, we have saved over 1,200 lives over here at San Antonio Pets Alive!," said Melanie Unterkircher. "But right now, we're taking in an abundance of kittens in the community."
Unterkircher has only been with San Antonio Pets Alive! (SAPA!) for a short time, but she sees the great need for kitten fosters or adopters, especially for the 20 to 40 neonatal kittens that arrive at their shelter daily, exceeding overnight care.
Those kittens require a little extra attention.
"Every three hours you're needing to bottle feed, around-the-clock care," Unterkircher said. "They're not with their mother, so... they're not getting that attention that they need."
Unterkircher says if you have ever considered adopting or fostering a cat but never have, now is the time to step up.
"That would be the perfect time to foster, or to honestly just ask questions. If you foster, you're also signed up with a mentor. So those are great questions to ask that mentor."
SAPA! says fostering kittens is flexible and rewarding, and accommodates various lifestyles. You can foster any age from bottle babies needing constant care to older, self-sufficient kittens, and there's an opportunity for everyone amid the major need.
"We're just in a kitten crisis," Unterkircher said. "So, please: Make sure that you're coming out, that you're coming in to any of our adoption events."