By Katie Curley
SALISBURY — Kitten season has kicked off in a big way at the Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society after volunteers took in 30 black and white cats and kittens from one home Tuesday.
"We have 19 kittens and 11 adults," said Stacy LeBaron, president of MRFRS. "They are all black and white, and all are in great physical condition."
The cats and kittens were stumbled upon after a resident alerted Salisbury animal control officer Harold Congdon that a resident had 30 cats in her home. Congdon notified Amesbury animal control officer Eileen Cashman and Newburyport officer Rebecca Taylor, which is often the procedure when one officer is dealing with a large number of animals.
"When you hear numbers over 20, you quiver a little," Taylor said. "We all work together. It's only one person per town, so if you have 20 dogs or 30 cats, you need the help."
The breeding season for cats runs from October through March. With a gestation period of 60 days, it doesn't take long for kittens to reproduce.
So from April into the summer, the shelter is typically inundated with kittens. People are also outside more during those months, and they find the tiny furballs under porches and in garages.
Last summer MRFRS had more than 100 kittens in care at the end of the summer. When large numbers of kittens or cats come in within a short time frame, it is trying for the organization, which relies mainly on donations and volunteers to stay in business. The society estimates that each time a kitten comes in, it costs them about $100 in food and care.
They are hoping the cats found in Salisbury will be adopted. Of the 30 found, 14 of the kittens are just 7 weeks old, five are under a year and 11 are more than a year old.
Liz Pease, the director of operations for the shelter, said the cats belonged to a woman whose husband had brought two strays into their home two years ago to care for. The husband recently died and things quickly got out of control for the woman.
Though LeBaron said the cats were well fed and cared for, the 30 cats would have multiplied into 90 if MRFRS didn't act when it did.
"It really got out of control because they had four or five cats and couldn't afford the cost to spay and neuter them," LeBaron said. "Now is the time everyone is getting pregnant, and you will see tomcats in your backyards looking for females."
Congdon said although the small bungalow was crawling with cats, the home was in immaculate condition except for a strong odor of felines.
"She was just overcome by cats, so we had her sign the release and took them away," Congdon said, noting he has had only one other case like this before when he entered a home with more than 50 cats.
Congdon said the elderly woman kept one spayed cat and a dog.
"It was a really positive event as an event with 30 cats can be," LeBaron said. "She knew she had gotten into a pickle. It was a situation where some folks started with two and went from there and didn't know how to ask for help."
The 30 cats have overloaded the MRFRS Salisbury shelter, where cupboards were already bare from the winter. And while yesterday 18 of the kittens and cats were placed in foster care, 12 were placed in a dedicated room within the shelter.
Some of the adult cats are already available for adoption. All will be vaccinated and spayed or neutered before they are adopted.
LeBaron said the discovery of the 30 felines is a good lesson for local residents who may be in similar situations. MRFRS offers low-cost spay and neuter programs year-round and will fully subsidize the procedure if needed.
"She had done her best to spay and neuter as she could afford it but sadly, she didn't know we were here to help," Pease said. "It only takes a litter or two to get into a very expensive situation."
LeBaron said that although the influx of kittens early in the season will burden the organization, that is what it is there for and it will rely on the community for help.
"If you have been thinking of adopting, now is the time," LeBaron said, noting others who would like to help are urged to bring wet or dry food to the shelter along with any other cat supplies to help the organization.
"Help is available if you are in a tough situation, and if you don't have money that's OK. We want to prevent the birth of unwanted kittens. We are here to help."
To Help
How to help the Merrimack Valley Feline Rescue League:
r Donate food and supplies: Bring feline supplies to the Salisbury headquarters at 63 Elm St.
r Kitten Shower: Adopt a kitten, including some of the 30 that came in this week, on April 20.
r Spay and neuter your pet: Low-cost programs are available at MRFRS.
r Keep cats indoors: If cats are not spayed or neutered, keep them inside to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Remember: Kittens can get pregnant at 4 months old.
