The Fifth Season

By Linda Spurlin

Those of us who were taught about the four seasons- winter, spring, summer, and fall, failed to realize these leave out a very important season in the feline kingdom. Kitten season. Kitten season comes between winter and spring, and can last clear into fall. It is usually announced with great enthusiasm by male cats hoping to win the affection of the temporary love of their life. Then they leave the female to fend for herself, and their short lived affections wander past love to more important things like field mice or sparrows.

The natural instinct of the cat to reproduce in the spring is probably nature’s way of ensuring the young are sturdy enough to survive on their own by the coming winter, as is the way with many of Mother Nature’s creatures. If one views the common cat as a wild creature, then nature is only continuing its circle of life when the owls, hawks, and coyotes feed on the unsuspecting kittens. Their little eyes open; they leave the safety of their mother’s nest; they venture out into the waiting jaws or talons of the hungry creatures that stalk the innocent.

Where does the cat stand? Is it a wild animal, to be allowed to reproduce at will to feed the bellies of other wild things, or is it a furry friend to be loved and protected? Does the answer lie in the word ‘house’? Is it a protected species when it is a house cat and only on the food chain menu when it is ‘houseless’?

A group meets at 6: p.m. the last Monday of every month at Polanski’s in Chewelah to help slow down this senseless circle of life and death. Stevens County Cat Care is a non-profit volunteer group working to help educate and assist people in getting their cats spayed or neutered. Fewer kittens born will mean fewer cats dumped at the pounds. Last year alone, just one of the three pounds in Spokane took in over 2000 cats and kittens! Less cats would mean fewer feral cats raising babies in the hay fields and culverts to end up as road kill; or left in front of feed stores in cardboard boxes; or getting into your garbage cans. It would mean fewer unwanted cats starving, breeding, suffering, and dying needlessly.

The word is out, and its not all coffee and small talk. People are calling for help in paying for spays/neuters, and funds are getting desperate during kitten season. Since the group’s beginning in January of last year, 118 vouchers for 50% spay/neuters have been given to local residents with about 2/3 actually following through and using them. Their only funding was yard sales, bake sales, and donations from generous local residents. They need money, fund raising ideas, volunteers, and public education ideas. And unlike large national groups, 100% of your money stays at work here locally. Call (509) 935-MEOW if you can help with ideas or donations.