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Genesee County tries to deal with feral cat population

Gaurav Pandit

Feral cats have become a serious problem in Genesee County.

The cats can be seen all over the county's towns.

Cats can reproduce up to four times a year with an average litter of six. So officials and animal activists have been pushing residents to spay and neuter their cats. 

Jody Maddock is the program director for Adopt-a-Pet in Fenton. She said the problem has really gotten out of hand.

"If you walk in the neighborhoods in Flint, you can see cats running across the streets almost like the squirrel population," she said. "There are cats being dropped off at animal control on a daily basis." 

She added that her own facility is already at full cat capacity.

"If we could just get the word out there that we can get this under control as long as everybody spays and neuters the cats." 

Officials will meet tonight in Burton to discuss how to best address the issue. Possible ideas include required cat licensing and the creation of feral cat colonies.

– Reem Nasr, Michigan Radio Newsroom