We got pretty worked up when we saw this CBS report, which says that Bay Area shelters are experiencing a bumper crop of kittens as warmer temperatures and less rain encourage cats to get busy earlier and more often than usual. Naturally, we decided to investigate.

"During warmer weather there's always an increase in kittens," says Krista Maloney of the S.F. SPCA, who says that it's normal to see an influx of kittens around this time of year. But Ian Gilmore, the SPCA's Adoption Intake Associate, says that this year kitten season has hit particularly suddenly. "In my experience kitten season begins as a trickle in late March and has usually reached boiling point by Mother’s Day. So I wouldn’t say that it started later this year, but it did seem to start very abruptly, more like flood gates opening."

Least year, between January 1 and May 17, the SPCA sent out 154 kittens and moms for foster care. This year, they sent out 363 kittens and moms, more than doubling from last year. But Gilmore says the increased transfers from other shelters accounts for a lot of the underage kittens we have now." Although they have approximately 270 kittens in total, only four of them are on the adoption floor now and six more are en route.

CBS reports that the kitten flood is impacting shelters all around the Bay Area, who are hustling to find foster parents and facilitate adoption of their kittens.

If you're looking to take advantage of kitten season, you're in luck. The SPCA is having a big adoptathon and street fair this weekend, which will include dogs and cats of all ages (don't forget that adult cats are the most in need of a home). We've been assured that there'll be plenty of kittens to go around. For this event, the SPCA will waive all adoption fees, and they're throwing food trucks, music, and kids activities into the bargain.

This concludes coverage of kitten season for today.

[CBS]