GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.– Officials at The West Michigan Humane Society say they are being overrun by an influx of stray and abandoned cats, and currently house around 300.
Nicole Cook, Marketing and Program Director says it’s always a busy time of year for cats; spring and summer is when breeding is the highest and Cook says cats can have multiple litters a year.
“The phone calls don’t stop of people finding litters of kittens in their barns or under their decks,” Cook said.
It’s the same story at the Kent County Animal Shelter. Program Supervisor Carly Luttman says they have around 20 adoptable cats now and nearly 70 strays.
“This time of year it just picks up. It usually starts in early June and it just keeps rolling ’til 6 p.m. every day with intake and on the weekend we’re just busy every minute of every day,” she said.
The Calhoun County Animal Center also put a post on Facebook saying they were overwhelmed and pleaded with the community to step up and adopt. They say they are completely out of cage space and are using crates on the floor.
“There’s lots of great facilities in our area that can help. You can do it cheaply and that’s the only way were only ever going to defuse the situation,” Cook said.
It’s a problem that isn’t going away but one that is preventable. Officials say it starts with getting your pet spayed and neutered.
“There’s no excuse for this to keep happening and it needs to end and it’s so simple, so very simple,” Luttman said.
The Humane Society is offering free adoptions of cats Friday and Saturday, for more information, visit their Facebook page.
The Kent County Animal Shelter is also offering $5 adoptions of all kittens and cats, and all come spayed and neutered.
