ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – It's kitten season in Albuquerque and the city says its shelters are overwhelmed, with hundreds of orphaned kittens arriving at the shelter each week. Now, the city's Animal Welfare Department is asking the public for help and giving tips on what to do if you come acros s kittens. Animal welfare says if you come across any kittens without their mom, they’re not necessarily abandoned. The mother might just be away looking for food or finding a more suitable place to live. They ask the public to wait and observe from a distance for an hour or two to make sure the kittens are truly abandoned. The department says one thing you can is leave a circle of flour around the kittens and see if paw prints show up, meaning the mother is coming and going. Story continues below NM Film: Are overseas film productions pulling work away from New Mexico? Environment: Mexican gray wolf seen roaming north of I-40 found dead Transit: City of Albuquerque looks to crack down on improperly parked E-scooters The city is also encouraging people to take in foster kittens or adopt them from a shelter if possible. "With an influx of kittens needing homes, it's a great time of year to step up and foster or take in a shelter pet as part of your family," Mayor Tim Keller said in a release. If you determine a kitten is abandoned and you are unable to foster, you can call 311 to make an appointment to bring the kittens into a shelter. If the kittens are weak or haven’t eaten in three hours, they can be taken to the east side shelter admissions entrance for assistance. For more information about being a foster parent, email awdfoster@cabq.gov. ...read more read less