On the surface, the term ‘Kitten Season’ might sound like a cause for celebration, but the sad reality is that it is a phrase that sends shivers down the spines of anyone working in the field of cat rescue and rehoming. With animal shelters becoming more and more overcrowded each year, the annual peak in feline reproduction from May to October puts a massive strain on already exhausted resources, staff, and volunteers. The ongoing problem seems to be that cats are able to reproduce at a rate faster than we can spay and neuter them, which is an issue that two veterinarians in Chillicothe, Ohio, set out to conquer.
In an initiative led by Petland veterinarians Dr. Rebecca Atwood and Dr. Sarah Hettinger, a whopping 1,291 feral and rescue cats were removed from the mating pool between January and December 2025. With the help of the dedicated veterinary team at Animal Health Center of Chillicothe, the pair completed 817 spay surgeries and 474 castrations; a significant increase on previous years. Considering that an unspayed female cat can produce over a hundred kittens in her lifetime, the exponential effect of spaying this many cats is huge.
“We know how overwhelmed shelters and rescues become every year,” said Dr. Atwood. “With Petland stores serving as an outlet for cat placement, we knew we could – and should – do more. Spaying and neutering protect the health of these cats and directly address the overpopulation issue in our communities.”
By acting as a conduit between animal shelters and prospective pet parents, Petland has been able to take a little bit of the load from rescue organizations and facilitate the neutering and rehoming of cats that may otherwise be overlooked. This far-reaching, community-wide response focused not only on adoption but also aon ddressing the root cause of overpopulation.
Dr. Hettinger and her team worked closely with area rescue partners, including Cats & Company, The Cat Round Up Rescue, Purrrfect Companion, and Petland’s Adopt a Kitten/Cat Program. While kitten season typically peaks between May and October in Ohio, the veterinarians emphasized that feral cat overpopulation doesn’t really have a low period.
“While we see a seasonal spike every year, the feral cat population doesn’t take a break,” Dr. Hettinger explained. “We made room in our schedule to perform as many surgeries as possible to help put a dent in the local homeless cat population.”
Each cat received a pre-surgical health check and medical care as needed. All cats in Petland’s adoption program were also vaccinated, tested for FIV and FeLV, to ensure they were fit and healthy for placement in their forever homes.
“The health benefits are substantial,” said Dr. Hettinger. “Spaying and neutering prevents unintended litters, reduces medical and behavioral issues, and increases the likelihood that cats can be placed into loving homes.”
As a result of this collaboration, hundreds of cats are now healthier and on their way to loving homes, and there will be fewer litters, putting pressure on animal shelters. Petland is encouraging its other franchisees to form similar partnerships with local shelters and vets to help reduce cat overpopulation and improve the health and welfare of their communities. And always remember: adopt, don’t shop!
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