'Kitten season' overwhelms animal shelter

MURRAY — There are two sides to every story at the animal shelter — when an animal comes into the shelter and when it leaves with a new family. For the Humane Society of Utah, more animals have been coming than going.

The animal shelter has seen an influx of cats and kittens, so much so that the limited space available is quickly being used up.

Because of the overabundance of cats and kittens, the potential pets are being offered at a discount for the next few weeks.

The shelter, 4242 S. 300 West, has approximately 200 cats and kittens being prepared for adoption. Cats younger than 2 years old are $24.50, and older cats are $10. Kittens (5 months and younger) are two for $70 or $50 each.

The felines come spayed or neutered and have had their shots. Generally it costs $33 to spay a female cat and $29 to neuter a male cat at the shelter. Rabies and distemper shots are $30.

Carl Arky, the shelter's public relations specialist, attributes the abundance of felines at the shelter to two major factors.

"We're in kitten season," Arky said, "and kitten season happens every year. This is the time of year where a lot of cats are giving birth, and so a lot of them are unwanted litters.

But the second reason isn't so obvious. With an economy in a downturn, many families can't afford the cost of keeping a pet, and cats are being turned out of longtime homes.

In 2009, 5,748 cats were brought into the center. Only 3,137 cats were adopted, leaving more than 2,500 without a home, shelter officials said.

The same year, the shelter had its first year of zero euthanization for adoptable dogs. Cats were not so lucky. While a few cats might have been transferred to another shelter, Arky said, the majority were most likely euthanized.

On Saturday at the shelter, Jessica McCusker was adopting a kitten. Unnamed and barely weighing 2 pounds, the black and brown speckled cat wandered across her lap, playfully pawing at her fingertips.

"Its fun to have a new addition to your family," McCusker said, "because once you get a pet, they just grow on you."

"I love how playful cats can be," said James Fleming, 21, of Salt Lake City, who volunteers at the shelter.

As Fleming spoke, standing close to dozens of full cages, Cocoa, a fluffy black cat with huge green eyes, stretched a white-tipped paw out to him.

Volunteers have written messages on Cocoa's nameplate: "I love to sleep on my back — so cute," and "I will love you."

Tonya Seybolt of Taylorsville was eyeing Estrella, a striped, 8-month-old brown tabby whose temporary living quarters are directly above Twilight, a sleek, gray, 20-month-old blue-point Siamese mix.

"Cats are so friendly and like to cuddle. They're good pets," she said.