Chase Vokrot, age 8, of Lancaster, Pa., for his question:

HOW MANY KITTENS IN A LITTER OF CATS?

A young house cat may bear only two kittens in her first litter. Later, the average female bears four or five kittens at a time.She may have two or even three litters a year ¬and continue this private population explosion until the age of 25. These figures apply to the ordinary house cat. They vary for special breeds. For example, the gentle Abyssinian cat usually bears two kittens per litter. The remarkable Siamese may bear eight or nine furry little smarties.    

Naturally there is not room for all the possible kittens in the world. Hence, unless good homes are promised, kindly owners have their adult cats neutered to prevent the birth of unwanted kittens. These cat operations are done by an animal doctor. They may seem costly  but surely this is the kindest way to cope with the surplus cat population.