Community cat programs are the cornerstone of feline lifesaving, but what happens when we come across kittens? How do they integrate into the broader community cat framework, ensuring fast yet responsible action for orphaned, socialized, or unsocialized kittens? This session will explore the critical decisions around returning or admitting kittens, and the unique challenges they pose, offering key insights for running a successful, kitten- inclusive community cat program to assure the right outcome for every cat.

Key takeaways:
1. Understand the role of kittens within community cat programs: Participants learn how kittens fit into the overall strategy for managing community cats and the key differences in handling them versus adult cats.2. Evaluate intake versus return options for community kittens: Attendees are equipped with decision-making tools to determine when to intake, foster, or return kittens based on their socialization, age, and health status.

3. Recognize the special care considerations for kittens in community programs: Participants explore the unique needs of kittens, including health, socialization, and development, to ensure proper care while aligning with community cat program goals.

4. Apply best practices for fostering and adoption pathways for kittens: Attendees gain insights into creating effective pathways for fostering and adoption that work within the community cat framework.

Speaker: Monica Tarant, Chief Innovation Officer, Give Them Ten Movement

Visit Maddie's Pet Forum to comment, follow a discussion or ask questions: https://forum.maddiesfund.org/...

This webinar was part of Camp Maddie: Kitten Edition symposium recorded on March 4, 2025. Earn continuing education credit from The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement towards 1.0 CAWA CEs. This webinar has also been pre-approved for 1.0 continuing education
credits by the National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA). It has also been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit between 1/2/25 - 1/2/27 in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval. Complete the quiz to earn continuing education credit.

Keywords: Camp Maddie: Kitten Edition, Monica Tarant, Community Cat Programs, kitten care

Kittens are exceptionally vulnerable in the first months of life. Many kittens born outdoors are underweight, sick, or injured by the time they are discovered or may develop disease after they enter a sheltered environment. This session will dive into the Shelter Medicine protocols developed for preventive health care, surgery, and response to disease that often differ from those used in private veterinary practice. Topics will include vaccination, spay/neuter, and infectious diseases including upper respiratory infection, FeLV, panleukopenia, and FIP.

Key Take-aways:

1. Understand preventive care protocols designed for sheltered kittens. Attendees will learn how vaccination, parasite control, and housing protocols are designed for the unique challenges rescued kittens face and why they differ from those designed for private practice.
2. Prioritize resources to achieve the best outcome for the most kittens. Attendees will use population-level evidence-based decision-making to prevent and treat disease in resource-scarce conditions.
3. Embrace pediatric neutering. Participants will dispel unfounded fears about spay/neuter in young kittens to support the neuter-before-adoption ideal and create a decision tree for adaptation when spay/neuter capacity is insufficient to meet needs.
4. Respond to infectious disease threats. Participants will learn how to manage URI, the most common disease threat, how to mitigate risk from FeLV, and how to recognize and treat fatal infections like panleukopenia and FIP

Speaker: Dr. Julie Levy, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, DABVP, Fran Marino Endowed Distinguished Professor of Shelter Medicine, University of Florida 

This webinar was part of Camp Maddie: Kitten Edition symposium recorded on March 4, 2025. Earn continuing education credit from The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement towards 1.0 CAWA CEs. This webinar has also been pre-approved for 1.0 continuing education credits by the National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA). It has also been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit between 1/2/25 - 1/2/27 in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval. Complete the quiz to earn continuing education credit.

Visit Maddie's Pet Forum to comment, follow a discussion or ask questions: https://maddies.fund/MedicalPr...

Keywords: Camp Maddie: Kitten Edition,  Dr. Julie Levy, Medical Protocols Tailored for Kitten Care, kitten care

This presentation discusses the programmatic development of the Kitten College at the Animal Welfare League of Arlington in Arlington, VA. Shelter and rescue staff and administrators are best suited to attend this presentation. Structure, foster recruitment and support as well as resource saving tips are covered.

Key Take-aways:
1. Learn how to look at kitten programs through a different lens by focusing on empowering fosters to keep kittens out of the shelter.
2. Divide fosters into categories that allow them to make manageable time commitments and specialize in an age they are comfortable handling.
3. Learn to maximize limited resources when implementing this program

Speaker: Marnie Russ, Founder, National Kitten College 

This webinar was part of Camp Maddie: Kitten Edition symposium recorded on March 4, 2025 Earn continuing education credit from The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement towards 1.0 CAWA CEs. This webinar has also been pre-approved for 1.0 continuing education credits by the National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA). It has also been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit between 1/2/25 - 1/2/27 in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval. Complete the quiz to earn continuing education credit.

Visit Maddie's Pet Forum to comment, follow a discussion or ask questions:  https://maddies.fund/KittenCollegeSmallProgramHugeImpactCampMaddieKitten

Keywords: Camp Maddie: Kitten Edition, Marnie Russ, Small Program, Huge Impact, kitten care

This lecture offers a thorough exploration of kitten socialization, addressing common misconceptions and providing actionable strategies for fostering lifelong learning behaviors. Attendees will gain insights into effective socialization techniques through practical examples applicable in diverse environments such as foster homes, shelters, and veterinary settings. By arming participants with both practical strategies and an understanding of kitten development, this lecture aims to empower individuals to create optimal socialization experiences for kittens, ultimately contributing to their long-term health and well-being.

Key take-aways:
1. Understanding Kitten Development: Gain a comprehensive understanding of the developmental stages of kittens and how these stages influence their socialization needs.
2. Effective Socialization Techniques: Learn and implement practical socialization techniques tailored for diverse environments, including foster homes, shelters, and veterinary clinics, to ensure positive and enriching experiences for kittens.
3. Long-term Health and Well-being: Understand the long-term impact of early socialization on kittens’ health and behavior and apply strategies to promote lifelong well-being and adaptability

Speaker: Tabitha Kucera, RVT, CCBC, KPA-CTP, Owner, Chirrups and Chatter

This webinar was part of Camp Maddie: Kitten Edition symposium recorded on March 4, 2025. Earn continuing education credit from The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement towards 1.0 CAWA CEs. This webinar has also been pre-approved for 1.0 continuing education credits by the National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA). It has also been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit between 1/2/25 - 1/2/27 in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval. Complete the quiz to earn continuing education credit.

Visit Maddie's Pet Forum to comment, follow a discussion or ask questions https://maddies.fund/Pawsitive...

Keywords: Camp Maddie: Kitten Edition, Tabitha Kucera, Socializing Kittens, Kitten Care