ASPCA Kitten Nursery: A Haven for Kittens in Need

The ASPCA Kitten Nursery is a safe haven for kittens in need. Located in New York City, it's a place where tiny lives are transformed with love, care, and expert attention.

Every year, the nursery cares for over 1,000 kittens, providing them with a warm and nurturing environment. This includes around-the-clock care from a team of dedicated staff and volunteers.

At the ASPCA Kitten Nursery, kittens receive medical attention, vaccinations, and spaying/neutering to ensure they're healthy and ready for adoption. This comprehensive care helps kittens thrive and increases their chances of finding forever homes.

Broaden your view: Aspca Preventive Care

The ASPCA's Kitten Nursery is a dedicated facility that opened in 2014 to care for neonatal kittens during the summer breeding season.

Kitten season brings a flood of vulnerable newborn cats to animal shelters, and the Nursery provides a safe space for these young animals to thrive.

Foster volunteers play a crucial role in caring for kittens at the Nursery, with many spending the majority of their time in foster homes.

Check this out: Aspca Foster Program

Only kittens requiring close medical monitoring stay on-site at the ASPCA.

The Nursery serves both nursing cats with litters and orphaned kittens up to eight weeks old.

Kittens usually come to the Nursery through Animal Care Centers of New York City or from the public throughout the five boroughs.

The Nursery has a special focus on kittens with greater medical needs, helping them through the most vulnerable stage of their lives.

As kittens develop and become less fragile, they transition to foster care in volunteers' homes.

After weeks of home care, kittens return to the ASPCA where they are quickly adopted.

The Kitten Nursery is part of the ASPCA's larger Hope Program, made possible by donations.

The ASPCA Kitten Nursery is a remarkable place where staff and volunteers work tirelessly to care for vulnerable kittens. They're a unique group, and the ASPCA takes the time to identify their individual needs and teach volunteers how to support them.

Many volunteers, including foster caregivers, have fond memories of their time with the kittens. Nancy Edwards, a foster caregiver, recalls socializing kittens with ringworm, a contagious fungal infection that requires special care. They were "so stinky but desperate for cuddles and playtime."

The Nursery provides fosters with training and supplies to ensure the kittens receive the best care possible. This dedication has paid off, as the ASPCA Kitten Nursery recently reached a milestone of caring for its 10,000th kitten.

The ASPCA Kitten Nursery reached a new milestone, caring for its 10,000th kitten. This achievement demonstrates the power of collaboration between animal welfare organizations, foster caregivers, and veterinary professionals.

The 10,000th kitten, named Zanzibar, was a 10-week-old tabby kitten with orange fur. She arrived at the ASPCA Kitten Nursery at only 4 weeks old from the Animal Care Centers of New York City (ACC) in need of specialized medical support.

Kittens under 8 weeks can be vulnerable and require constant care. Unfortunately, most shelters cannot provide this level of care due to limited resources. The ASPCA Kitten Nursery has provided lifesaving care to kittens in need with the help and support of foster caregivers.

Zanzibar was placed in the home of an experienced foster caregiver who was able to give her round-the-clock care and bottle feedings. Thanks to the support of her foster caregiver, Zanzibar is strong, healthy, and will soon be available for adoption at the ASPCA Adoption Center.

The ASPCA Kitten Nursery needs more foster caregivers to support kittens like Zanzibar who need frequent bottle feedings and specialized treatment.

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Staff and volunteers who work with kittens share fond memories. They speak highly of the ASPCA's efforts to identify unique needs and teach volunteers how to support the population.

The Nursery provides fosters with training and appropriate cleaning and protective supplies, making it possible to socialize kittens with ringworm. These kittens were desperate for cuddles and playtime despite being stinky.

Julie Coleman, an ASPCA volunteer and Nursery staff member, was honored to work the overnight shift for two days as Kitten Care Coordinator. This experience taught her a lot and set the stage for future success.

Ruth Allen, Director of Admissions and Placement, reflects on the Nursery's first season, saying it laid the groundwork for many more years of success.

Kitten season never really ends at PHS/SPCA, so year-round care is essential.

If you find an underage kitten, you can care for it on your own, but it's crucial to get the right guidance. Use the "Getting Started" link to help you on this journey.

PHS/SPCA provides starter kits at their 12 Airport Blvd location and at most pet supply stores.

The ASPCA Kitten Nursery provides life-saving resources to vulnerable kittens, with an estimated 60% being diagnosed with upper respiratory infections due to their vulnerable nature.

Tiny kittens often don't survive without support, such as with a Puppywarmer incubator and oxygen concentrator, which delivers a higher percentage of oxygen to the lungs and keeps them warm.

Caring for newborn cats is time-consuming and resource-intensive, so the Nursery has grown its foster program to support the youngest kittens who require bottle-feeding every three to five hours.

The foster program has been incredibly successful, with the majority of kittens now in foster care, receiving socialization and individual attention in individual homes.

At the height of kitten season, the Nursery can have as many as 150 to 200 kittens in foster care, which frees up space at the ACC so they can care for other animals.

The dedicated staff and fosters at the Nursery go the distance to save as many kittens as possible, and their work not only saves lives but also makes a big difference in the community.