The cataclysm of kittens has started to ease at Whangarei SPCA.
Team leader Andrea Honeybun said while the animal welfare agency was not over-run, there were still 25 cats and kittens in the cattery.
In past years more than 40 kittens had been taken in during the historically busy kitten seasons.
"Because we're doing the community de-sexing we've seen a slight decrease in the number of kittens we are receiving.
"The good thing is most of the kittens we are receiving are very healthy kittens."