Mild Winter Leads to a Cat Boom

By: Kris Allred | WSAV-TV
Published: February 22, 2012 | 0 Comments | Post a Comment

It looks and feels like spring in the Coastal Empire and Lowcountry. Trees and flowers are blooming. Allergies are kicking into high gear.

These are all expected. But did you know this could be mean more cats?

Throughout the country, many humane societies are used to getting litters of kittens.

It usually happens, however, more toward the end of March or the beginning of April.

But here it is mid February and cages are already starting to fill up.

Some experts say it's all because of the warm winter weather.

How is this so?

Well, cats are usually warm-weather, spring time breeders. With a springlike winter we've had, the cat population could explode.

Local animal shelters may be calling on you for help.

And finally another concern is that with these warmer than usual temperatures, fleas and ticks could be more of a problem. It hasn't been cold enough to kill them off.