(Mineral Wells, Tx) – The Mineral Wells Animal Shelter is overflowing with cats and they’re hoping to establish a new program to help with the growing problem.

According to the Mineral Wells Index, a woman in the county recently surrendered 45 cats she was no longer able to care for. There have been dozens of other surrenders and seizures in recent weeks.  The shelter would like to implement a “trap, neuter and return” program that will humanely and effectively reduce the numbers of feral cats and create healthier cat colonies in Mineral Wells and throughout Palo Pinto County.

A spokesperson for the shelter says “If you take a colony of cats, and you trap, spay, neuter, vaccinate and return them, you have a healthy colony there…. The cats are no longer reproducing…and they’re doing their job….keeping us free of vermin”.