Some rural residents are seeing an increase in cats being abandoned on their properties. In a post on the Facebook group, “What’s Happening Lloydminster”, a farm resident says she’s seen four in the past month.
The Lloydminster & District SPCA confirms that this is a problem for many cats and landowners, though it’s often earlier in the year.
“This is the first jump we’ve seen,” says operations manager Zoey Grey. “It usually happens more in the springtime when cats come out and are running around some more.”
Grey says the SPCA hears about cats being left on rural properties quite often, and that most farms and acreages reach out to them when they find one abandoned. As the shelter nears capacity, it often asks those who find the animals to hold on to them a bit longer on a waiting list.
The waiting list is a process the SPCA uses to prevent overloading their shelter. It’s often used for owner-surrendered cats and dogs as well as stray animals found in the city.
“We try not to refuse any cats, but they are adult, tabby old cats that are okay with being outside we ask that people hold on to them, whether it’s in a garage or a spare bedroom,” says Grey.
Grey adds social media is also a powerful tool in finding a cat’s forever home.
“A lot of times if people aren’t wanting to hold on to a cat, if they post on facebook asking other people to hold on to the cats for them we have pretty good success with that.”
The Lloydminster & District SPCA admits they are close to full, and will likely reach capacity in weeks by contacting those on the waiting list.