As kitten season hits its peak, the Houston SPCA is making an urgent call to the community for help. More than 100 animals — including 87 fragile kittens — are in immediate need of foster homes. With June marking National Foster a Pet Month, the timing couldn’t be more critical for animal lovers to step up.

“These young animals are depending on us,” says Dr. Roberta Westbrook, chief veterinarian and VP of veterinary medicine at the Houston SPCA. “Fostering saves lives. It gives vulnerable animals the chance to grow, heal, and thrive in a safe, loving environment.”

Right now, most of the kittens in need are either still in or have just graduated from the Houston SPCA’s Neonatal Kitten Nursery, where they’re bottle-fed until they're old enough to eat soft food. Without a foster network ready to take them in, their chances of survival dwindle.

Spring and summer are notorious in the animal welfare world for an explosion of orphaned kittens, and that includes the Houston SPCA. By fostering, you don’t just help a single animal — you alleviate the burden on the campus and open up space for the continuous flow of new rescues.

Fostering is easier than you think
If you're hesitant about fostering, the good news is that it’s designed to be simple and supportive. The process to become a foster parent involves just three straightforward steps:

1. Submit an application online
2. Complete a quick training
3. Pick up your supplies and your foster animal

The Houston SPCA provides everything you’ll need: food, medical care, training, and more. All you have to provide is time, love, and a temporary space in your home. You also gain access to a supportive community through the Houston SPCA Fosters Facebook group, where you can ask questions and share your journey.

You can sign up to foster or learn more at houstonspca.org/foster-family.

What if you find a litter in the wild?
It’s common to come across kittens in yards, under porches, or in parks this time of year. But the Houston SPCA urges Houstonians not to swoop in right away.

Watch first — if the mother cat returns within a few hours, she’s likely still caring for them. However, if the kittens are visibly injured, malnourished, or covered in ants, or if their eyes are closed and they appear abandoned for hours, it's time to step in and contact the Houston SPCA.

Photo courtesy of Houston SPCA

Now is the time to help
With 108 young lives in the balance, the Houston SPCA is counting on the compassion of local residents. Whether you’ve fostered before or are considering it for the first time, there has never been a better — or more urgent — time to get involved.

"Fostering may seem small, but to the animal you care for, it means everything," says Dr. Westbrook.

Take the first step today and help the Houston SPCA give these kittens a fighting chance.