The RSPCA has been inundated with dozens of unwanted litters of kittens over the last month, as the annual breeding season gets into full swing.
About 56 kittens have been handed over to the RSPCA by Inspectors and members of the public since September.
![An abandoned litter of kittens.](/web/20161112133906im_/http://www.watoday.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/n/5/m/6/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gsn5ng.png/1478830911579.jpg)
The organisation said the explosion in kitten numbers has put a strain on its Animal Care Centre in Malaga, and has slowed down the adoption of older animals.
RSPCA's executive manager of animal services Jess Moore-Jones said the amount of kittens given to the RSPCA was frustrating due to the organisation's effort in educating the public on the importance of pet de-sexing.
"If cat owners de-sexed their pet as instructed by the Cat Act, there wouldn't be so many young orphaned kittens battling to survive their first few weeks of life," she said.
"Rarely does a mother cat arrive at RSPCA WA with its litter, so the younger litters have to be hand-reared by foster carers or staff; most of whom are already caring for other animals leaving a shortfall of suitable carers to help."
On-the-spot fines can be handed out to those found not to be in compliance with cat sterilisation laws, but the influx in numbers has prompted the organisation to run hand-rearing workshops.
People looking to foster an orphaned litter can learn how to care for the kittens by signing up to the organisation's rearing training sessions, but the RSPCA warned kittens still had the best chance of survival when not separated from their mother.
"It's a tough but very rewarding experience to help save tiny lives," Ms Moore-Jones said.