Urgent Need for Fosters as Kitten Season Peaks in Manatee County
Necessary supplies including food, litter, and medical care provided at no cost by the county.
MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. (June 9, 2025) — Manatee County Animal Welfare (MCAW) is urgently calling on residents to help ease overcrowding at shelters by providing foster homes for kittens in need.
"It’s kitten season here in our county, and our shelters are full of tiny lives waiting for a chance,” said Carol Felts, Manatee County District 1 Commissioner. “Fostering saves lives—it gives these kittens a safe place to grow until they’re ready for adoption.”
When new kittens arrive at Bishop Animal Shelter, they receive medical care and are held temporarily until a foster home becomes available. From there, the foster family cares for the kitten for a few weeks, providing love, monitoring and basic care until the kitten is healthy enough to be spayed or neutered. Once surgery is complete back at Bishop, the kitten is transferred to Cat Town, where it becomes available for adoption.
Fostering is easy, flexible and free. The shelter provides all supplies and medical care, and foster families provide a safe, temporary home. The foster-to-adopt program also allows families to try fostering first and then adopt their pet if it’s a good fit.
“We know this community is compassionate and willing to step up when it matters most,” said Dr. Syna Johnson, medical director at MCAW. “Even a short-term foster or a single adoption creates space and hope for another animal in need.”
There are many ways to support MCAW during cat season. Residents can foster a cat or a litter of kittens, and all supplies are provided. They can adopt from any shelter location or try the foster-to-adopt program if they are still deciding. Donations of food, litter or funds are always welcome. Even sharing a social media post can help connect more pets with loving homes.
Now through the summer, the public is encouraged to foster, adopt, donate or share the message to help ease overcrowding and give these pets a second chance at finding loving homes.
To become a foster, please contact Lauren Tryon at lauren.tryon@mymanatee.org or stop by Cat Town or Bishop Animal Shelter during business hours. Donations are gratefully accepted at any location.
About Manatee County Animal Welfare:
Manatee County Animal Welfare (MCAW) operates three locations: Cat Town, Bishop Animal Shelter, and the Palmetto Adoption Center. The mission of MCAW is to protect public health and safety by enforcing animal-related laws and ordinances, promote responsible pet ownership, encourage pet adoption and reduce pet overpopulation.
For more information on Manatee County Government, visit online at www.mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501. You can also follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/manatee.county.fl and on X, @ManateeGov.
