Kitten season should be winding down. Yuma's shelter has taken in 559 newborns since April.

Since April 23, the Humane Society of Yuma's kitten ICU has cared for 559 newborn kittens. That's the shelter's count, shared by Hilary Mulherin in KYMA's Oct. 21 report.

Spread over roughly six months, that's about three a day. The arithmetic is ours; the intake figure is HSOY's, not an independently audited total.

Mulherin told KYMA the season "is not slowing down for us at all." The shelter is still receiving kittens of different ages, including neonates just a few weeks old or younger, and says foster homes are especially needed.

The youngest need more than a bowl of food. HSOY's foster page says very young kittens may need bottle feeding every few hours. That's a commitment that doesn't fit neatly between dinner and bedtime.

If you find a litter

HSOY's advice, as reported by KYMA, is to watch for the mother rather than immediately remove kittens that appear healthy. She may be away hunting. Sick or injured kittens need prompt help.

If you're unsure what to do, call the shelter at (928) 782-1621 for instructions specific to the kittens you've found. Don't treat general advice to wait as a reason to delay getting help for an animal that appears unwell.

What fostering takes

KYMA reports that no fostering experience is necessary. HSOY offers orientation, while its own page lists basic animal knowledge among the requirements.

HSOY says volunteers must be over 18, have landlord permission if renting, and provide a home or renters insurance policy number. You may need a separate space from your own animals, which must be spayed or neutered and current on vaccinations, with proof.

Expect a commitment of 10 days to three months, depending on the animal. Fosters cover daily expenses such as litter and toys; HSOY provides medical care. The shelter also warns that fostering takes substantial time and can be emotionally taxing. Being willing to let an animal go to an adoptive home is part of the job.

Apply through the cat foster application on the HSOY foster page. The coordinator will contact applicants about orientation. Questions can go to fosters@hsoyuma.com or the main shelter, 4050 S. Avenue 4 1/2 E.

If fostering won't fit your household, that same page links donations and an Amazon supply wish list.

The 559 figure doesn't tell us whether this year is worse than last year, or whether foster capacity is keeping up. It does explain why the shelter is still asking for help in October.