When Addison Inabnit and her roommates started hearing meows outside their Columbia home last year, they didn’t think much of it. Stray cats are a common sight around their house. But these cries sounded different.

“Right here under the crawl space, we found a bundle of kittens abandoned by their mother,” Inabnit said. “We tried to take care of them and waited to see if their mom would come, but she never did. They ended up going to Charleston with my housemate’s parents.”

After calling multiple shelters, the roommates learned every facility in the Midlands was at capacity. The kittens were eventually taken in by a roommate’s family.

“The cats that live out back usually don’t bother us. They’re very chill,” Inabnit said.  “There’s probably 20 of them.”

But experts say the issue is widespread. Stray and feral cats reproduce far faster than they can be adopted, leading to overpopulation in communities across South Carolina.

Maria Wooten, who works with Pawmetto Lifeline, a no-kill shelter in Columbia, said TNR, or trap, neuter, release, is the most effective way to manage these growing colonies.

“TNR is the most successful way to keep feral cat communities safe and healthy,” Wooten said. “Our veterinarians can perform them in just three minutes.”

Pawmetto Lifeline has fixed and released about 35,000 cats through its TNR program since it began in 2017. Residents who find stray cats can access TNR services through local organizations. Information on low-cost or free spay and neuter programs is available at https://www.richlandcountysc.gov/Utilities-Services/Animals/Pet-Laws-and-Help/Stray-Cats

Animal Mission offers spay and neuter vouchers for Richland County residents, while Pawmetto Lifeline performs surgeries on feral cats Monday through Friday for $50.

The results are significant: since TNR programs became more common nationwide, shelter euthanasia rates have dropped 77%. As kitten season continues, Columbia residents like Inabnit hope more people learn about the resources available to help.