26 kittens left in box outside Michigan Humane Society building in Rochester Hills

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. – The Michigan Humane Society (MHS) is caring for a large number of kittens who were left last Friday outside the door of its Rochester Hills Center for Animal Care.

The box was wrapped in chicken wire and contained 26 kittens, approximately 4 to 5 weeks of age. Two of the kittens have died. The rest of the kittens will be up for adoption when they are healthy enough.

MHS said an influx of kittens occur every spring and summer because of the high numbers of unsterilized cats.

"This specific example is very sad and disheartening," said CJ Bentley, MHS senior director of operations. "Worse yet, similar situations are brought to the Michigan Humane Society on a daily basis. This problem can only be solved if we, as a community, work together to reduce animal homelessness and save lives."

  • Ensure your pets are spayed/neutered: Cats can reproduce as early as 4 months of age – while they are still kittens. To prevent unwanted litters and help end animal homelessness, ensure your pets are spayed and neutered, even if they are primarily indoor pets. To make an appointment to have your pet spayed or neutered at one of the three MHS veterinary centers, visit www.michiganhumane.org/about/locations/
  • Adopt: Looking for a cat or kitten? The MHS adoption package offers spaying or neutering, age-appropriate vaccinations, a medical check-up, behavior evaluation and microchipping. To view adoptable cats and kittens, visit www.michiganhumane.org/adoption/cats.
  • Donate: MHS is a private, non-profit organization that does not receive government funding and is not affiliated with any national humane organizations. Donations are critical to help house, care for, treat and find homes for homeless cats and kittens. To donate, visit www.michiganhumane.org/donate or call 855-MHS-GIVE (855-647-4483).
  • Foster: Many cats and kittens that arrive at MHS need extra care before they can be placed up for adoption. This includes medical treatment, socialization and weight gain. To become a foster caregiver volunteer or learn more about fostering at MHS, visit www.michiganhumane.org/foster.
  • Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR): Many cats in our community have never lived with humans and generally cannot be adopted into a traditional home setting. The most humane option for feral cats is to ensure that they can live out their lives outdoors while not breeding more homeless cats. MHS offers a TNR program to assist those who wish to manage a feral cat colony near their home or workplace so these cats can live happy and healthy lives in their chosen environment. To learn more, contact Marisa Babbitt at mbabbitt@michiganhumane.org.