Edmonton-area animal rescue seeking more foster homes as kitten population booms

The Infinite WOOFS Animal Rescue Society is used to seeing periodic spikes in the number of kittens and cats being brought in but says this time it’s different. The group is pleading with Edmontonians to foster animals who need care.

“It feels like it’s not ending this year,” Lori White said Wednesday. “Kitten season usually has its kind of ups and downs and we’re not always quite so busy, but it seems like all the rescues are in the same situation as well.”

READ MORE: Edmonton Humane Society sees unprecedented number of abandoned cats in 1 day

Watch below: On Jan. 2, 2017, Laurel Gregory filed this report about animal advocates trying to figure out who abandoned close to a dozen cats and kittens in the cold last week.

1:40 11 cats abandoned outside Edmonton humane society

“We have so many people wanting to bring in animals and have more kittens come in so we’re really at… It’s a desperate need for foster homes.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We have so many people wanting to bring in animals and have more kittens come in so we're really at… It's a desperate need for foster homes."

White says the non-profit organization she represents has been operating in the Edmonton area for about four years and is entirely run by volunteers. As a result, she is hoping to recruit some more volunteers to help with efforts to find homes for animals.

Currently, Infinite WOOFS has about 125 kittens and 60 cats in its care, according to White. She says the criteria for people wanting to foster a kitten is being able to provide them with food, water, love and attention.

White said the increase in the number of kittens and cats needing homes is a reminder of the importance of taking steps to keep populations from getting unsustainable.

READ MORE: Edmonton Humane Society at ‘maximum capacity’ for cats and kittens

“Our biggest thing is spay and neuter your animals,” she said. “We want to make sure that these cats… if they’re getting out of the home, that they’re spayed and neutered and honestly, population control – that’s the only way we can do it.

“We had a mama cat that just gave birth to 10. So it’s one of those things where one cat can become 40,000 over a couple of years and that’s kind of what we’re trying to prevent.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We had a mama cat that just gave birth to 10. So it's one of those things where one cat can become 40,000 over a couple of years and that's kind of what we're trying to prevent."

White says her rescue also works with dogs and any number of other types of animals.

To donate or volunteer with Infinite WOOFS Animal Rescue Society, or to foster an animal, click here.

The rescue says it provides all of the supplies foster homes need to raise the cats. Foster families just have to do the work.

View image in full screen