San Diego Humane Society Launches 2026 Virtual Kitten Shower to Save Thousands of Tiny Lives
Kitten season is around the corner, and San Diego Humane Society is preparing for another busy year of caring for vulnerable newborns. To ensure thousands of orphaned kittens receive a second chance, the organization is hosting its annual virtual Kitten Shower, inviting community members to donate supplies or make a monetary gift that will be doubled — up to $20,000 — thanks to a generous match from the William Hall Tippett and Ruth Rathell Tippett Foundation.
Supporters can purchase critical items — including kitten formula, bottles, heating pads, scales, blankets and more — through online registries at Amazon, Target and Walmart. All items are shipped directly to San Diego Humane Society, making it easy to help from home. To send a gift or make a matched donation, visit sdhumane.org/KittenShower.
Last year, San Diego Humane Society cared for 5,438 kittens under 8 weeks of age, and the organization anticipates similarly high numbers in 2026. Many arrive just days old and require specialized, around-the-clock support to survive.
“Kitten season always brings an influx of vulnerable animals who rely entirely on people for their survival,” said Aileen Pantoja, Associate Director of Nursery and Foster at San Diego Humane Society. “Every donated item plays a vital role in helping these tiny kittens grow strong and healthy so they can thrive in loving homes.”
Since opening the nation’s first 24-hour kitten nursery in 2009, San Diego Humane Society has remained a leader in neonatal kitten care. Now known as the Jim Lester Kitten Nursery & Foster Center, the facility provides:
- Intensive, specialized care for orphaned and fragile kittens.
- Training and support for foster volunteers providing around-the-clock care in their homes.
- Daytime “daycare” options for foster families who need extra help while they’re at work or school.
Additional kitten nurseries at San Diego Humane Society’s Escondido and Oceanside campuses extend this lifesaving model across the region. The organization’s innovative approach to neonatal care has become a national standard and is central to its mission to maintain zero euthanasia of healthy or treatable shelter animals in San Diego County.
For more information about the virtual Kitten Shower, visit sdhumane.org/KittenShower.
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