A large number of cats are showing up in some Effingham County neighborhoods and one resident has had enough.
Gladys England, who lives in Willowpeg in Rincon, has trapped 11 adult cats and 4 kittens over the last 11 days, she said. She said her neighbor has also trapped a number of cats.
England believes someone is dropping these unwanted cats off and wasting taxpayers’ money.
“If people don’t want these cats they could take them to the shelter themselves,” England said.
Workers from the Effingham County Animal Shelter have come to England’s home almost every day for two weeks, she said.
“They know my name when I call,” she said.
Effingham County Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie said the cats are keeping animal control busy.
“We have been hammered with feral, trapped and abandoned cats,” McDuffie said.
Adam Kobek, the director of community relations for the county, said while there are spikes in feral cat numbers several times throughout the year, a higher than average number are now being seen.
“Spring Hollow and the Willowpeg areas have been providing quite a few trapped animals to the shelter of late,” Kobek said.
Calvin Morris, administrative assistant at the shelter, said dozens of feral cats and kittens are being left on other people’s property in the county. He said if people would stop feeding stray cats, they might not attract so many strays. People tend to drop off cats at places where they think someone else will feed them, Morris said.
“Bring them here instead of dropping them off on someone else’s property. We won’t fine you or send you to court.”
The county encourages residents to have their animal spayed or neutered to prevent unwanted pregnancies and to assist with animal over population. The Animal Control facility will accept abandoned or trapped animals Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feral animals can carry rabies and other diseases so caution should be used when dealing with these animals. If residents have any questions they should contact the Effingham Animal Control facility at 912-754-2109. If a domesticated or feral animal breaks the skin by scratching or biting citizens should immediately contact the Environmental Health Division of the Effingham Health Department at 912-754-6850.