ESCANABA -- The Delta County Animal Shelter is seeing a spike in the number of cats that have been abandoned in the month of January.
The highest number of unwanted felines usually reaches its peak in June or July.
According to Escanaba Animal Control Officer Ed Olsen, the overpopulation is growing because of one preventable factor. Cats are not being spayed or neutered, and the strays are rapidly producing new litters.
Adoption rates are simply not able to keep up with the number of cats who need homes.
"January is usually our slow time of year, and right now we're seeing a steady flow of cats coming here," said Olsen. "And now the numbers have grown to, you know, thirty, forty, fifty cats."
Olsen said the shelter tries to refrain from humanely euthanizing the animals, but this is a reality for cats who are feral, sick, or too old to be adopted.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWLUC