Hundreds of kittens up for adoption at Charlotte animal shelter, nearing capacity

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control is nearing capacity, with 223 kittens and 80 cats in the shelter.

That’s not counting about 200 others currently in foster homes

"The more we save, the more homes that we're going to need to find for those babies and those kittens," Melissa Knicely, with CMPD Animal Care and Control Division, said.

Channel 9 spoke to a woman who flew all the way from Fort Lauderdale to adopt two kittens.

She said she heard about the situation in Charlotte from a friend who works for the city.

“She started sending pictures of babies, and that’s all it took,” Florida resident Leslie King said.

Officials said there are two reasons for the increase in cats. A mild winter caused a longer breeding season, leading to more strays for officers to pick up.

Animal Control also said the word has spread about its nursery that opened two years ago, and more kittens are being dropped off than ever before.

Thursday, officials had to start euthanizing the sick kittens.

They are hoping more people will come adopt.

Most adoptions are free. You can visit the shelter until 7:30 p.m. on Friday. It’s also open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. all weekend.

Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com:

• North Carolina woman claims racial profiling at neighborhood pool
• Vehicles, home riddled with bullets 2 days after similar shooting
• Beryl becomes first hurricane of 2018 Atlantic season
• WATCH: Keith Monday's weekend forecast outlook
• Police: 24-year-old SC man killed after struck in chest by firework

Cox Media Group