Animal Services Seeks Kitten Fosters
Published on May 18, 2026
Collier County Domestic Animal Services Seeks Kitten Fosters During Busy Kitten Season
Collier County Domestic Animal Services (DAS) is asking the community to get involved with Southwest Florida’s most vulnerable animals as “kitten season” brings an overwhelming number of kittens into the shelter.
Each year, warmer weather leads to a surge in kitten births across the region, filling shelters with litters of all ages in need of care. DAS is currently caring for kittens ranging from newborns requiring bottle feeding to older kittens ready for adoption, and the shelter is in urgent need of foster families to help provide temporary homes.
There is no cost to foster an animal through DAS. The shelter provides fosters with supplies, food, medical care, training, and ongoing support. Foster families simply provide a safe home, time, and care until the kittens are old enough for adoption.
“Kitten season places a tremendous strain on shelters throughout Florida, and foster families play a critical role in helping save lives,” said Mia Diaz, DAS Foster Coordinator. “By opening their homes temporarily, fosters give these kittens the opportunity to grow in a safe, loving environment while helping create much-needed space in the shelter.”
Cats can begin reproducing as young as four months old and may have multiple litters each year. National animal welfare organizations estimate that a single unspayed female cat and her offspring can lead to hundreds of kittens over several years if left unsterilized.
In addition to fostering, DAS continues its efforts to reduce the number of homeless kittens entering the shelter through community cat sterilization programs. Community cats — free-roaming outdoor cats without identifiable owners — reproduce quickly when left unspayed or unneutered. DAS works with residents and community partners to trap, sterilize, and vaccinate community cats to help reduce future litters and improve the health of local cat populations.
“Spaying and neutering continue to be among the most effective tools for controlling pet overpopulation, reducing shelter overcrowding, and preventing unplanned litters,” said Dr. Erica Unz, Collier County Veterinary Medical Director.
Residents interested in fostering kittens through Collier County Domestic Animal Services can learn more by visiting Pets.Collier.gov or contacting the shelter directly.
About Domestic Animal Services
Collier County Domestic Animal Services is the County’s public animal shelter, providing care for lost and homeless animals, adoption services, community outreach, and enforcement of animal-related ordinances. The shelter takes in thousands of animals each year and works to support public safety, responsible pet ownership, and lifesaving outcomes.
Media Contact:
Meredith McLean
Division Director, Domestic Animal Services
(239) 877-8186