Wisconsin Humane Society at 'crisis levels' with cat overcrowding

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- There is an urgent need for cat and kitten fosters at the Wisconsin Humane Society. The shelter says because of the large amount of strays it's taking in every day, the shelter is experiencing overcrowding at crisis levels.

“This truly does feel unprecedented,” said Angela Speed with the Wisconsin Humane Society Milwaukee Campus. “We’ve had to set up, pretty much in all of our campuses but especially Milwaukee, temporary crates to house incoming animals.”

Currently, the Wisconsin Humane Society Milwaukee Campus is caring for nearly 300 cats. The shelter says on Tuesday alone, more than 100 cats were either brought in as strays or surrendered.

Speed says more families are surrendering animals because of a lack of affordable housing options, veterinary care options, and the rising costs of caring for a pet.

“It’s about 42% more expensive than it was in 2019 to afford all the supplies and food,” said Speed. “So we are truly bursting at the seams. I’d actually call it a crisis mode.”

Families like Sarah Sing’s are easing the burden.

“We decided that once we got a home, we were gonna come get some cats,” said Sing. “We were gonna only get one older cat and then we decided the girls get one and the boys get one.”

Speed says adoption isn’t the only way to help.

“Foster parents are critical to expanding our capacity at all of our shelters right now and we have been inundated with cats,” said Speed.

If you become a foster, the Wisconsin Humane Society will provide all the necessary supplies. For those interested in adoption, there are reduced adoption fees for some cats, kittens, and dogs.

Learn more HERE.