National Adopt-a-Cat month highlights need for homes during peak kitten season

June is National Adopt a Cat Month, and animal welfare officials in Chula Vista say the timing coincides with one of the busiest periods of the year for shelters as hundreds of kittens and cats arrive during what is commonly known as “kitten season.”

According to Ashley Milo, director of Animal Services for the city of Chula Vista, warmer weather triggers the annual increase in feline populations.

“Once the weather begins to warm, female cats begin the ongoing search for mates,” Milo said. “By June, kittens of all ages are entering shelters in mass.”

The numbers reflect the seasonal surge. Milo said the Chula Vista Animal Care Facility took in 226 cats and kittens last month, along with 46 community cats brought in through Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs. The facility has seen an increase in cat intakes in 2026.

The influx creates significant challenges for shelter staff and volunteers. One of the biggest concerns is caring for kittens that are too young to survive on their own.
“Kittens under 6 weeks should remain with mom,” Milo said. “Her milk provides vital nutrition and immunity.”

When young kittens arrive at the shelter without their mothers, they often require foster homes where caregivers can provide bottle-fed feedings every few hours and help them transition to solid food and litter box training.

“Maintaining enough fosters is difficult,” Milo said, noting that the shelter needs between 50 and 75 active foster families during the summer months when many residents are traveling.

Medical care also presents challenges. Like people, cats can contract contagious illnesses that spread quickly in shelter environments.

Milo said shelter staff must monitor respiratory viruses, ringworm, and other medical conditions that can require extensive treatment and recovery time.

In addition, the cost of caring for hundreds of kittens continues to rise.

“Costs for medical supplies, vaccines, formula, food, and foster supplies have increased,” Milo said. “Hundreds of kittens are in the shelter system for 8-10 weeks.”

National Adopt a Cat Month also serves as an opportunity to educate prospective pet owners about the responsibilities of cat ownership.

“Any pet is a commitment,” Milo said. “Cats can live up to 20 years, so it’s a long-term commitment.”

She recommends that newly adopted cats be given a small, designated space to help them adjust to their new surroundings. Kittens are often best adopted in pairs because they provide companionship and can develop appropriate social behaviors while playing together.

Milo also addressed one of the most common misconceptions about cats.

“The most common myth we hear is that they aren’t as social as dogs,” she said. “While every cat is individual, most cats enjoy the company of their human and animal friends.”

To help connect cats with potential adopters, the city regularly participates in cat cafés and community adoption events.

“Meeting the community in the community is a fantastic way to increase not only adoptions, but awareness for the mission and the needs of the local shelter,” Milo said.