After 120 Milwaukee area cats were surrendered in one day — including 47 from a single home — the Wisconsin Humane Society is urging animal lovers to consider adopting or fostering a new pet.
The sudden increase in the shelter’s cat population forced the humane society’s Milwaukee campus to set up emergency housing in boardroom and office spaces.
Angela Speed is the the Wisconsin Humane Society’s vice president of marketing and communications. She said the 47 cats were delivered to the shelter in a single car by relatives of their former owner, who had died.
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“Obviously, that family was struggling, so we’re really glad that those animals were brought to us so that they can get the care that they need,” Speed said.
The cats range from young to old and are in varying states of health. Many of the cats have received veterinary care and are ready for adoption.
The Wisconsin Humane Society is currently caring for more than 1,500 animals across its six campuses. Nearly 75 percent are cats.
In October alone, 1,035 animals were surrendered to the shelter, compared to 675 in the same month last year.
Speed said the high amount of surrenders this year has been unusual. She believes rising costs of housing, pet supplies and veterinary care has burdened families with pets.
“All of those factors result in families getting separated from their pets,” Speed said. “And typically, our animal intake peaks in the summer and then tapers off in October, and we have not seen that trend yet.”
Speed said it has stretched their resources, and they are desperate for people to foster, adopt or donate supplies.
Some, like Chelsea Malkasian, have already answered the call to adopt.
Malkasian is a big cat lover — she even has a cat gallery wall in her home. When her friends told her the local humane society campus had too many, she had to see if any were a good fit for her family.
“We have a black one with a little bit of tan on her, and then the other one is tan with reddish ears,” Malkasian said. “We have three cats at home, black, white and gray, so we’re adding more colors to the mix.”
Malkasian adopted two cats from the home with 47. She said though it might get a little crazy, her two kids will help take care of the cat clutter.
“Once you get one cat, it’s like, what’s another? As long as they are well cared for,” Malkasian said.
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