Rotorua's SPCA centre has busy Christmas period with lots of kittens looking for homes

CUDDLY: Rotorua SPCA's Julie Hay with one of the centre's kittens. PHOTO/BEN FRASER

The Rotorua SPCA has been "flat out" over the holiday period, with the kitten season in full swing.

SPCA shelter manager Karen Rolfe said they always had a lot of animals coming in at this time of year, with stray cats and kittens.

It was kitten season, so the first lot had come in, but cats would be getting pregnant again and the centre would be "well and truly" full until after March, she said.

Ms Rolfe said cats could have three lots of kittens in a season.

She said the SPCA was always in need of more volunteers and had plenty of kittens to home.

The centre was also always in need of fosterers, especially people who could foster sick animals, she said.

Ms Rolfe said the centre had about 160 animals in foster care at the moment.

She said it did not have people coming in and collecting cats or kittens as gifts for the festive season, but found people often came in to get another member of their family, such as when an older cat died.

This was always a great time to get another pet, because the children were on holiday and had time spend with and get to know the pet.

"It's just a great way to introduce a pet to your house when everyone is relaxing."

She said this was also the season for parvo (canine parvovirus) in dogs and the cat flu. She said the best thing to do to avoid parvo with dogs was to vaccinate the pup and not let them on the street until two weeks after they had their final boost.

Ms Rolfe also wanted to remind people not to leave animals in cars.