Saving the Lives of Orphan Kittens

## The Crisis Facing Orphan Kittens Kittens are the most vulnerable animals in shelters, facing a high risk of dying due to their age. In the United States, 65 percent of all cats who die in shelters are kittens, with over 233,000 of them not making it out alive last year. This is not a failure of compassion, but rather a lack of capacity in shelters to provide the specialized care that kittens require. ## The Work of Orphan Kitten Club Orphan Kitten Club is a non-profit organization dedicated to changing the world for kittens. Founded in 2016 by Hannah Shaw, the organization has touched the lives of over 250,000 kittens across more than 150 partner shelters and rescues. Through its Mightycat grant program, Orphan Kitten Club empowers and equips shelters and rescues to save kittens in their own communities. ## Grant Program Success Stories The Mightycat grant program has had a significant impact on the lives of kittens in various communities. In Kansas, the Helping Hands Humane Society used a $40,000 grant to create the state's first Kitten Care Attendant position, which has led to a partnership with the women's prison in Topeka. In Mississippi, the Southern Pines Animal Shelter used an $18,000 grant to create the Bitty Beans Nursery, a dedicated kitten space with incubators and areas for medical care and training. ## Giving Critically Ill Kittens a Second Chance Orphan Kitten Club's Mightycat medical grants give critically ill kittens a second chance at life. These grants cover surgeries and medical care that shelters often cannot afford, such as eye removals, amputations, and cleft palate repairs. For example, a kitten named Goose needed surgery for a chest deformity, and a medical grant covered the operation, saving his life. ## Research and Education Orphan Kitten Club's research program aims to transform one kitten's unique story into valuable knowledge benefiting all of kittenkind. By partnering with leading universities, the organization conducts ethical pediatric research studies to give kitten caregivers and veterinary providers the evidence they need to make lifesaving treatment decisions and improve the standard of care everywhere. ## The Future of Kitten Care Thanks to the efforts of Orphan Kitten Club, tiny lives that once faced the highest risk of euthanasia are now entering systems all across the country that can keep them warm, fed, healthy, and moving safely toward adoption. Every dollar granted and every life saved is only possible because of the organization's generous community of kitten-loving donors and members who believe that every kitten deserves a chance to thrive.