CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Feral cats are becoming a growing problem in North Carolina and one nonprofit is pleading for help to address the issue.

Friends of Feral Felines said as cats multiply, it’s now a matter of life or death for these furry friends.

What You Need To Know

  • Feral cats are becoming a larger problem in North Carolina, according to advocates

  • Friends of Feral Felines said as cats multiply, it’s now a matter of life or death for these furry friends

  • Cats can have two to three litters a year of up to six kittens per litter

When Mindy Cetel isn’t being a doctor, she’s saving street cats from starvation. It's a passion that stemmed from childhood trauma.

"We had an outside cat named Goldie, and she gave birth on the front porch, and I remember that my father took Goldie for a ride, and we never saw her again," Cetel said.

From that moment on, she's made it an effort to make sure other cats don’t go through a similar situation, especially as she claims, feral cats are breeding at a higher rate.

"Cat reproduction is just amazing. So they are 15 times more reproductive than humans and can get pregnant at four months when they're still little kittens, and they can have two to three litters a year of up to six kittens per litter, and that's why this is such a crazy problem that we have to get a handle on because it's just explosive," Cetel said.

Over the past three years, Friends of Feral Felines, the nonprofit Cetel volunteers with, has subsidized roughly 4,000 spay and neuter procedures, saving 13,000 lives. However, Cetel says they can’t do it alone.

"You know, what we are doing is somewhat helping," Cetel said. "But the big picture is that we definitely need assistance from the players in this. So we need funding. We do ask for it from city council, but it hasn't been a high priority. We also need help at the state level and from the Humane Society of Charlotte."

Friends of Feral Felines encourages people to trap, neuter and release, so that cats can live happily without having to be euthanized for overpopulation.

But even that comes at a cost. Cetel said most people don't want to pay.

"It's just a glaring lack of sufficient resources. And while you're waiting for your appointment, by the way, miss pregnant female has just had another batch of six. So it's just so tragic every way you look at it," Cetel said.

Friends of Feral Felines operates completely based on volunteers and donations. Cetel said that in order to see any real change, things will need to be addressed sooner rather than later. While the organization is taking in cats and caring for them, it can't cover all of the feral cats in the Queen City.

If you're in need of trapping a cat and want to learn more about the organization, click here.