Cat surplus leads to wait for surrenders, need for adoptions

More than a half-dozen children’s books have been written humorously lamenting situations with too many cats.

The Sioux Falls Area Humane Society recently has found itself in that situation, but it’s not that funny.

Having too many cats means Humane Society staff can’t help other cats — those who are being surrendered by their owners for assorted reasons.

“We schedule them out so we know they’re coming in, so we can make sure we’re saving a kennel space, usually a couple weeks out,” said Dana Konzem, head of marketing.

The Humane Society sees challenges in helping animals like cats, dogs, guinea pigs and rabbits every year, said Konzem, who has been with the organization since 2013.

“We have been seeing higher intakes this year,” she noted. “We have been seeing a lot of pregnant cats giving birth to kittens, and people just unable to take care of their animals anymore, so they come to us for help.”

The Humane Society shelter can “uncomfortably” hold about 500 animals. Right now, it has 340 cats, although not all of them are available for adoption. Some of the cats are in foster care, some are strays waiting for their owners to claim them, and others are waiting to be spayed or neutered.

Generally, about 120 cats are available for adoption. The Humane Society approves 300 to 400 adoptions of cats and dogs a month. The Humane Society contracts with the city of Sioux Falls and some neighboring counties, so some of its kennel space is always allocated to those stray animals.

The Humane Society is operating on a five-year plan that could add a veterinarian to its staff, allowing it to expand by offering low-cost spay and neuter services.

What the Humane Society needs is for people who have been considering adopting a cat to put that thought into action, Konzem said. It is helped in that goal by The Cattitude Cafe, which generally has 24 cats from the Humane Society up for adoption.

“They have been a huge help to us,” Konzem said. It means 24 more of our kennels that we can open up to other cats, and that’s very beneficial to us.”

The most popular cats are calico-colored or pure white. Darker cats — and dogs too — usually stay longer at the Humane Society, often just because their appeal doesn’t “pop” as much as in photos of lighter-colored animals.

Konzem also urged current cat owners to have their pets microchipped so they can be returned faster.

Not everyone is in a place to adopt a cat, but assistance is available in other ways.

“Donations are a great thing,” Konzem said. “It can be either monetary or physical items like toys, food, any kind of blankets, towels. If they’re unable to donate, just getting on our Facebook, on our social media and sharing the posts we do helps get the word out.”

The Humane Society makes it easy for a person to adopt, Konzem said. A one-page application helps staff play matchmakers between a prospective owner and feline.

“We’ll find a good fit for your family, and you can adopt the same day,” Konzem said.

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