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Wake County Animal Center Encouraging Name-Your-Price Cat Adoption During Height of Kitten Season

There’s an influx of cuteness every June at the Wake County Animal Center - it’s that time of year when large litters of kittens are born across the country and often end up in animal shelters. This is the season these cuddly kitties need help more than ever.

“We need our community to step in and provide forever homes to these loving creatures,” said Vickie Adamson, Wake County Commissioner. “Cats are easy to keep, and they can be the best companions for you.”

During the whole month of June, the public can name-their-price and take home any cat that is more than five months old.

To reduce the number of cats coming into the shelter, pet owners are encouraged to have their cats spayed or neutered, even if they are indoor cats. The center also encourages residents to refrain from bringing litters of kittens to the shelter unless they are in immediate danger or distress, appear ill or malnourished.

“Generally, litters of kittens that are found are not abandoned. The mother is most likely out finding food for herself and will return shortly,” said Dr. Jennifer Federico, director of the Wake County Animal Center. “If people find kittens that appear sick, unthrifty, are crying, seem skinny, they may need to intervene and bring the kittens to our center. Make sure to bring them in during open hours only.”

Kittens cannot be made available for adoption until they are at least two lbs. and eight weeks of age. That’s because really young kittens cannot survive without staff or someone feeding them every few hours, as they cannot eat on their own.

“If you can’t adopt a cat, but want to help us, please consider fostering,” said Joanne Duda, foster coordinator at the Wake County Animal Center. “This is a very busy time for us and we rely on our volunteers and foster parents.”

Ready to adopt? Check out our adoption gallery or come by and see the sweet faces for yourself! The shelter is open for adoptions daily from noon to 6 p.m. seven days a week. The Wake County Animal Center is located at 820 Beacon Lake Drive, near the intersection of I-440 and New Bern Ave. in Raleigh.

June National Pet Days

June is National Foster a Pet month. Foster parents provide animals with a temporary refuge in a loving home until they find a new owner. Have you ever considered becoming a pet foster parent? The Wake County Animal Center Foster Program is a great way to help animals get ready for adoption. We started the program in 2008 and Joanne Duda joined the program in 2009. Check out her story here .

June is National Pet Preparedness Month! Your pets are an important member of family, so they need to be included in your family’s emergency plan. To prepare for the unexpected follow these tips with your pets in mind: 1. Make a plan. If you have a plan in place for you and your pets, you will likely encounter less difficulty, stress and worry when you need to make a decision during an emergency. 2. Build an emergency kit. Think first about the basics for survival, such as food and water. Have two kits, one larger kit if you are sheltering in place and one lightweight version for if you need to evacuate. 3. Stay informed. For more information check out our website.