Kittens are now available for adoption

They are cute, they are soft and cuddly, and they are ready to offer a lifetime of love to any caring family who wishes to adopt them. They are the spring litters of kittens at the Ocean County Health Department’s two animal shelters.

“We are temporarily overstocked with adorable kittens awaiting adoption at our northern facility in Jackson and our southern unit in Manahawkin,” said Edward Rumen, the department’s public information officer.

Rumen said late springtime always seems to produce a bumper crop of kitten litters, resulting in many adoptable animals turning up at the shelters.

“For whatever reason, some people are not spaying or neutering their pets and when their female feline comes into contact with an alluring Tom, nature takes its course, resulting in an unwanted litter of kittens,” Rumen said.

“The litters are either brought to the shelter or picked up by an animal control officer. We give each kitten a physical, the shots and immunizations it needs, spay or neuter and microchip each one and offer it up for adoption,” he said.

Rumen noted that while kittens are always cute, they do grow up to be cats.

“Before we let any person adopt a kitten, we want to make sure that the person or family is committed to providing a lifetime of care to the animal,” he said. “The kitten will return the favor and become somebody’s lap cat or mouser, depending upon the personality of pet and owner.”

“There currently is a terrific choice of healthy little kittens just waiting for a chance to find a permanent home with a loving family,” said Ocean County Freeholder Gerry P. Little, liaison to the Board of Health.

“Anyone looking for a friend for life should visit one of the health department’s shelters and find the kitten that is just right for you. It may be a tough choice, but remember, you can adopt more than one and they can keep each other company and provide twice the love,” Little said.

There is an adoption fee of $55 for each kitten to cover part of the costs of shots, neutering/spaying, microchipping and vet’s services.

For more information call the Northern Ocean County Animal Facility in Jackson at 732-657-8086 or the Southern Ocean County Animal Facility at 609-978-0127.