Two large cat surrenders in Massachusetts this month have left shelters across the state scrambling for adopters, fosters and volunteers.
MSPCA-Angell is asking the public to step in after taking in 98 cats from two separate homes in Worcester County and Berkshire County in less than three weeks.
What Happened
The first surrender came September 3, when 35 cats were given up from a Worcester County home. MSPCA-Angell handled the bulk of the intake. Worcester Animal Rescue League, a coalition partner, took in 10 more.
The second came on September 18, from a property in Berkshire County. The MSPCA Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem accepted 28 cats, and Berkshire Humane Society took 25.
Neither situation was a raid or a seizure. MSPCA-Angell’s Law Enforcement team worked with the owners to facilitate voluntary surrenders.
“There’s a misguided belief that our officers spend the majority of their time seizing animals and pursuing punitive actions,” said Mike Keiley, MSPCA-Angell Vice President of Animal Protection. “But many of the complaints they look into are actually based on a lack of resources.”
Why the Timing Made It Harder
Both surrenders came before the shelters had managed to rehome many of the cats from the first one.
“Before we were able to rehome many of them, we got another call for help, and we’re always going to do everything in our power to answer,” Keiley told Patch.
This is the reality of shelter work in late summer. Kitten season runs from spring through September, and organizations that were already at capacity before the surrenders are now absorbing nearly 100 additional animals on top of whatever was already in their care.
Keiley said MSPCA-Angell currently has roughly 300 cats and kittens across all four of its shelters who are ready for adoption today.
Why the Coalition Model Worked Here
A single organization taking in 98 cats over two weeks would have been untenable. The Massachusetts Animal Sheltering System coalition distributes the load.
“If a single organization was trying to take in this many animals, it would be overwhelming, but with the coalition we’re able to split them up, ensuring they get the care and attention they deserve,” Keiley said.
The Berkshire County cats are expected to be available for adoption this week. The Worcester County cats are already in care.
People interested in adopting can see cats currently available at MSPCA shelters.
How This Differs From Other Cases
The Patch report is clear on one point that matters: these were surrenders, not seizures.
MSPCA Law Enforcement did not remove animals from an unwilling owner. They worked with people who could not manage the number of cats they had accumulated and helped them find a path out.
The Walker, Louisiana case from earlier this month was different. Seventeen cats were found dead in a nearly 100 degree building, and 66 charges followed. The Hebron, Connecticut fire earlier this month showed how quickly things can go wrong when animals accumulate in a home and systems are not in place. Massachusetts caught these two situations before they reached that point.
Massachusetts got 98 cats out safely because the system caught it before those outcomes became possible. That is what early intervention looks like.
What You Can Do
MSPCA-Angell is not just asking for adopters. The ask is broader: foster if you are not ready to commit permanently, donate to cover care costs, or volunteer at one of the four shelters.
Fostering creates capacity that shelters cannot build on their own. A cat in a foster home is a kennel freed up for the next surrender call.
If you are in Massachusetts and have been considering adoption, this is the week. The cats are there. The shelters need them to move.
Have you fostered or adopted through MSPCA or a coalition shelter in Massachusetts? Tell us in the comments.
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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Contact MSPCA-Angell or your local shelter directly for current availability and application details.