Operation Kindness Humane Society is celebrating a major milestone in animal care: 3,000 kittens cared for in their kitten nursery. The celebration falls on July 10, which is National Kitten Day – a day to bring awareness to kittens, how to support shelters with their care, and to celebrate the joy that kittens bring to our lives. We first opened the doors to our neonatal kitten nursery in May 2022, allowing it to take in vulnerable animals for lifesaving, critical care. To mark this milestone, staff have decorated the nursery in celebratory decor in honor of this milestone and the 3,000th kitten cared for, Tres Leches.
Tres Leches was transferred from Dallas Animal Services on June 25. At just 21 days old, he came to our neonatal kitten nursery to receive around-the-clock care and to seek a new, loving family once old enough to be adopted. After spending a short time in the nursery closely monitored by the our medical team and nursery staff, he became eligible to go to a foster home. Today, Tres Leches is relaxing with his foster family and focusing on growing into a strong, healthy kitten.
Neonatal kittens are especially at-risk in shelters because of the high level of care they require. Not only do they have weakened immune systems, which increase their chances of contracting diseases, but they are also unable to regulate their body temperature required for digestion.
Until about four weeks old, kittens cannot eat on their own and must be fed every few hours — requiring 24/7 care, like what is provided in our neonatal nursery, to survive.
With state-of-the-art incubators, regular bottle feeding and IV-fluid intake, kittens receive undivided attention they may not otherwise have access to.
July is peak kitten season, a time when underage and orphaned kittens like Tres Leches are on the rise, which can be overwhelming to shelters not equipped with resources to care for underage animals. In 2025 alone, our nursery assisted 797 underage kittens and provided aid to shelter partners, like Dallas Animal Services, in providing lifesaving care for pets in North Texas.
Want to help our kitten nursery?
Our foster team is always looking for volunteers to take in kittens, whether it be to bottle feed orphaned kittens, care for a nursing mom cat and her babies, help kittens learn how eat solid food or assist them in growing big and strong to receive their spay/neuter surgery. No experience is necessary to foster, we provide plenty of training and support for fosters, so you feel prepared and comfortable! Any supplies such as food, medicine, toys or bedding will be provided.
Fostering isn’t always a possibility for everyone, if you would still like to help us with our influx of kittens, we are always in need of donations. We have an Amazon and Chewy wish list with items that support our neonatal kitten nursery to make lifesaving care possible.
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