Tiny paws are getting a big boost in Baltimore.
The Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter, known as BARCS, announced today it has received a $3,000 innovation grant from Orphan Kitten Club, a national charitable organization focused solely on advancing kitten welfare. BARCS said the money will support its Cat Foster Program, which provides dedicated care for neonatal kittens.
The grant will help strengthen neonatal kitten care by paying for new incubators and heating discs. BARCS noted that kittens can’t regulate their body temperature until they are three to four weeks old, meaning they depend on their mother or an external heat source for warmth that supports digestion, organ function and their developing immune system.
Neonatal kittens, from newborn to eight weeks old, are described as the most euthanized feline population in animal shelters in the United States, accounting for at least half of feline deaths. BARCS said heat support is just one of the specialized needs involved, along with supplies, skills, veterinary expertise and overnight care, which can make it difficult for shelters to care for them on-site. Because of that, shelters and rescues often rely heavily on volunteer foster parents to help care for these kittens.
“BARCS is thrilled to receive this much-needed support from the Orphan Kitten Club,” said Noelle Patterson, BARCS director of philanthropy and communications. “This investment in neonatal kitten supplies will be the first-of-its-kind for the Cat Foster Program at BARCS. The long-term impact from this gift will give more vulnerable kittens the chance to survive and thrive into adulthood.”
Orphan Kitten Club said its Mightycat program selects partners with the goal of creating meaningful new impact for neonatal kittens. The organization said a panel of experts in animal welfare, veterinary medicine and kitten wellbeing reviews applications during a bi-annual process and allocates donor funds to programs with plans aimed at lowering euthanasia rates, increasing lifesaving capacity, enhancing quality of care and/or contributing to research.
“Our Mightycat partners are shelters and foster-based rescues that are truly aligned with our mission to increase lifesaving programs for kittens under eight weeks old,” said Jackie Noble, executive director of Orphan Kitten Club. “We’re proud to partner with BARCS to move the needle for neonatal kittens.”
More information is available at www.barcs.org.
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