For more information on the Community Kitten Program or to participate, call 783-2311.

LEWISTON — In an effort to cut down on the number of sick kittens and cats being given away in the community and dropped off at its shelter, the Greater Androscoggin Humane Society will now vaccinate and spay or neuter litters of young kittens and their mothers.

The Community Kitten Program is open to anyone living in Androscoggin County, Canton, Hebron or New Gloucester. It is not restricted to low-income families and there is no income limit for those who want to participate. Participants must agree to either keep or give away — not sell — the litters of kittens. 

Owners will pay $10 each for kitten care. Care for the mother cat will be free.

Shelter leaders believe it is the first program of its kind in Maine. It is being funded through a $48,000 grant from the Maine-based Sewall Foundation and a $62,000 grant from PetSmart Charities.

For years, the Greater Androscoggin Humane Society has spayed or neutered the animals it puts up for adoption. It also runs spay/neuter clinics for low-income owners and offers to spay mother cats whose kittens are relinquished for adoption. While the shelter has seen a 10 percent drop in cats, numbers are still high. In addition, the kittens it receives are often not vaccinated and sick.

“We’re still missing the part of the community that do not bring the kittens in to us. What they do is place the kittens on their own,” Executive Director Steve Dostie said.

Dostie hopes the program will reduce the number of cats entering the shelter and will lead to healthier cats overall. 

To participate, call the shelter and make an appointment to bring in the kittens when a veterinarian is there. On the day of the appointment, kittens will receive distemper combo vaccinations and the owner will get one spay/neuter voucher per kitten. Those vouchers go with the kittens when they are given away to new homes. Also that day, mother cats will be scheduled to be spayed and to receive rabies vaccines.

After they get their new kitten, the adoptive family can bring their voucher to the Greater Androscoggin Humane Society, pay a $10 co-pay and receive a certificate entitling them to a free spay/neuter through any participating local veterinarian. Kittens must be spayed or neutered before they’re 3 months old. They will get the second distemper combo vaccination then.

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