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It's Kitten Palooza, people!

On Saturday, June 27, LAPS is holding a kitten adoption day at the shelter and at their Abbotsford Petsmart.
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This is just one of the many kittens up for adoption on Kitten Palooza Day on June 27.

On Saturday, June 27, it's going to be raining cats and kittens in Langley.

The Langley Animal Protection Society (LAPS) is hosting its first ever “Kitten Palooza,” an adoption extravaganza to find homes for the abundance of kittens currently in LAPS’ care.

The event will be held at the Patti Dale Animal Shelter, 26220 56 Ave., and at the LAPS satellite adoption centre in the Abbotsford Petsmart, 1305 Sumas Way, on June 27  from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Kitten season is well under way and LAPS has had a record numbers of kittens dropped off at its door already.

The shelter currently has almost 100 kittens in foster care. Approximately 50 kittens are available for adoption in the weeks leading up to Kitten Palooza.

"We have more kittens now than we've every had in our history," said Jayne Nelson, manager of animal welfare at LAPS.

"This is really early too. Our peak kitten season doesn't start until July and into August," said Nelson.

Right now there are 13 litters in foster care with volunteers and staff.

Nelson has had a litter in her charge since they were one week old.

"I have two female tortoise and one ginger boy. They will be ready to go for Kitten Palooza. It's going to be hard to let them go," she said.

Until a kitten reaches four weeks of age, they have to be bottle fed every 1.5 hours and are unable to urinate or defecate on their own.

It means a lot of sleepless nights and tired foster parents but it is so worth it, said Nelson. She has had her kittens since they were one week old.

Litters have been coming into the shelter from all over — from acreage property, and one litter was found in the drywall of a construction site. Another woman had more than 30 cats/kittens on her acreage property.

Another litter was born on a car driver's seat, after the window was left open at night. Another litter was born in a Langley factory.

These are all from feral cats, of which there are many more than people realize.

Kittens born to a feral mom are not feral themselves, Nelson said.

"As long as we get the kittens before the 10-week mark, they are perfectly normal," she said. "After 10 weeks, it is hard to get the wild out of them."

Their black kittens are always the last to go, which is still a sad reality on the animal shelter world.

"They are actually great lap cats, sweet-natured," said Nelson.

The first 30 people who adopt at the event will receive a kitten goodie bag and everyone who adopts on June 27 will be entered to win a grand prize. Many lovely adult cats will also be available for adoption

“In order for us to help more homeless kittens, we need our Kitten Palooza to be a huge success,” said Sean Baker, LAPS executive director. “We’re running out of room."

People can adopt and take home kittens on the spot, said Nelson.

Cost for a kitten is $200.

Prior to adoption, all cats and kittens are spayed or neutered, tattooed, and receive their first set of vaccinations, plus de-fleaing and de-worming treatments. The adoption fee also includes a free check-up with a veterinarian within three days of adoption, six weeks of free pet insurance and a bag of premium Royal Canin food.

 



Monique Tamminga

About the Author: Monique Tamminga

Monique brings 20 years of award-winning journalism experience to the role of editor at the Penticton Western News. Of those years, 17 were spent working as a senior reporter and acting editor with the Langley Advance Times.
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