Thursday, October 1, 2026
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Cherryville, NC (WNN) - The lower estimate of the number of domestic cats on the planet is 600 million. Approximately two-thirds of those are stray or feral. Cats have an incredibly consistent gender ratio of 50/50, creating the potential for 200 million litters of 4-6 cats each, compounding yearly. That is why the goal of National Kitten Day is to raise awareness about fostering, adoption, and trap-neuter-return programs.
The first place many people think of when it comes to adoption is shelters. Gaston County Animal Care and Enforcement hosts a shelter in Gastonia, NC. Their adoption-ready animals are kept up to date on their website page here. There is no shortage of adoptable animals: 81 cats are currently in the care of Gaston County. They also allow local humane societies and rescues to foster animals. The animals adopted from them receive all necessary medical procedures, including spaying or neutering.
Unfortunately, as a government funded organization, when space is desperately needed, or an animal is deemed unadoptable due to behavioral issues, the shelter must resort to euthanization. Staying up to date with their Facebook page however, is one way to help prevent this, as they are open about what animals have limited time left at the shelter.
There are also other county and municipal shelters that are close enough to consider while looking to adopt or foster. The two closest ones to Gaston County are the Cleveland County Animal Shelter, located at 1601 Airport Rd, Shelby, NC 28150, and the Lincoln County Animal Services, at 650 John Howel Memorial Dr, Lincolnton, NC 28092.
However, outside of these, there are many more local ways to adopt or get involved. Some local agencies are:
Purrfect Pour Cat Cafe - April 23, 2026
Submitted By: Mason Beam
Whether it is these or another organization like them, one of the biggest parts of adoption is to make sure your pets are spayed or neutered!
The problem of strays has grown beyond ever being able to place every cat in a home. So it has become the responsibility of organizations like the Association for the Welfare of Animals to ensure that strays do not produce more kittens. You can read about how they partner with other organizations like Born Free Felines to solve issues like the alley cats around Cherryville’s Main Street.
They also need veterinarians willing to provide these services, which is why organizations like the Humane Society of Lincoln County focus on spaying and neutering instead of sheltering animals. They have been open since 2000 and learned early on that preventing more kittens from being born was more effective than trying to home the ones that were. The majority of these organizations are volunteer-led and survive off donations, so be sure to reach out if you want to show your support.
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