APA!'s Neonatal Program, affectionately called the Bottle Baby Program, was one of the first of its kind in the nation and began in 2009 in a trailer. The kitten nursery space is now located at our Tarrytown Facility and is kept as a sterile environment, open only to staff and volunteers to protect these tiniest lives. Each year, especially during breeding season, also referred to as kitten season, (which spans from March to October), shelters are overwhelmed with orphaned kittens. Prior to APA!’s introduction of the Neonatal Kitten Program, and later Maddie’s Lifesaving Academy’s Bottle Baby Nursery Apprenticeship Program, nearly all of these kittens were euthanized because neither the shelters nor local rescue groups in the community could provide the intensive care that these special little ones need to survive. By feeding, treating, and providing shelter to kittens that would have otherwise been euthanized, the neonatal program fills the gap in the shelter community that is necessary to save the lives of thousands of kittens each year. Our amazing team of staff, volunteers, and fosters provide round the clock care for these tiny lives! In 2020, the neonatal program went through another transformation when faced with the restrictions of the Covid-19 crisis. This led to a shift towards a program built entirely around our foster homes, since we could no longer bring staff and volunteers to the nursery every single day and night to feed and care for kittens. Amazingly, this led to a record-setting year with over 3,800 moms and kittens coming through the program - ALL cared for by fosters! We are looking forward to even bigger achievements in 2021 and beyond!
