Nonprofits tackle Iredell County ‘cat colonies’

IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. ( QUEEN CITY NEWS ) — Iredell County Animal Services is teaming up with two other nonprofit organizations in the area to address cat colonies across the counties.

The often feral groups of cats are multiplying in number due to a lack of spaying, neutering, or being dumped along the side of the road. They have grown to be a problem that is out of control but is being managed due to a program between Animal Services and the organizations Lucky Cat and Piedmont Animal Rescue.

Known as TNR, or ‘Trap, Neuter, Release’, the program allows volunteers to trap the animals to get them spayed or neutered, before returning them to their colony. The purpose of returning them is to keep other cats from returning and keep that population controlled to the point where it would eventually dwindle out.

The volunteers often have cat colonies living near their homes.

Amelia Schaeffer is a volunteer who has helped spearhead the program in Iredell County and noted that the colonies can show up for any number of reasons.

“I talk with people every day,” said Schaffer. “The cats wander up on their property, and people don’t know there’s programs out there. Next thing you know, there’s kittens underneath the porch or shed, and it grows out of control very quickly.”

Schaeffer noted that for cats, females can become pregnant as early as four to five months old and while a female cat is still nursing. The gestation time for a litter is around 60 days.

Schaeffer also noted that many cats that become part of these colonies are often the result of abandonment by people who feel they can either no longer take care of their animals or cannot afford to care for them any longer.

Iredell County Animal Services said that as a result of the TNR program, they have been able to better control the cat colonies, which are still a major issue. However, they also noted that cats are not the only issue they’re seeing county-wide.

“When I first came here, the cats were the issue,” said Kristian Hernandez, director of Iredell County Animal Services. “Now, every shelter I talk with and interact with, it’s dogs.”

While issues with animal colonies and dumping have been around for a long time in smaller amounts nearly anywhere, it has shown itself more and more in the Charlotte area over the years.

Back in 2021 , Queen City News profiled Lucky Cats’ efforts to address pet abandonment in Mecklenburg County, particularly near public parks, and the rising number of animals — particularly cats — that were being seen in these locations.

While some may not see releasing felines back into the wild as a humane option, the groups involved in the TNR effort said that it works tremendously well, allowing adult cats the freedom to be back in surroundings they are comfortable with.

Kittens from those cat colonies are often spayed and neutered before being put up for adoption.

“Since its inception, we’ve spayed and neutered thousands, which means tens of thousands of unwanted animals (no being out) in the community,” said Hernandez.

Schaeffer said that in August, they anticipate just over 275 animals spayed or neutered, which itself means thousands more animals — particularly felines — off the streets.

Iredell County Animal Services is offering a workshop this coming Saturday, July 27.  Information can be FOUND HERE .

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