For the third year in a row, a group of animal shelters in Wisconsin is launching a joint promotion in July, waiving adoption fees for all adult cats. In both 2016 and 2017, participating organizations exceeded 1,000 cat/kitten adoptions in July. It has been such a success that they are doing it again, but with even more Wisconsin shelters on board!

The third annual “I Cat Believe It!” joint cat adoption promotion aims to save the lives of more than 1,000 homeless cats in July. Fourteen shelters in 12 Wisconsin counties – the Wisconsin Humane Society’s five shelters, Coulee Region Humane Society, Elmbrook Humane Society, Humane Animal Welfare Society in Waukesha, Humane Society of Marathon County, Lakeshore Humane Society, Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission, Oconto Area Humane Society, Oshkosh Area Humane Society, and Washington County Humane Society are all waiving adoption fees for adult cats (1 year or older) in July.

The initiative is in response to the dramatic peak of cat intake in the summer months. The Wisconsin Humane Society alone reports that they are currently caring for 950 cats, in comparison to about 350 cats in late January.

“Cat population dips sharply in winter and rises fast in the summer months due to breeding cycles. Our colleagues throughout Wisconsin report similar trends, and we’re hoping this promotion will inspire more cat adoptions throughout the state,” said Anne Reed, President & CEO of the Wisconsin Humane Society.

“In February we waived adoption fees for adult cats to prepare for kitten season and our community supported us in a big way with over 60 cats finding their forever homes that month. We’re hoping to break that record in July. We believe in community over competition and are happy to be a part of a statewide initiative with our shelter partners that supports the placement of our feline friends,” added Lisa Leitermann, Executive Director HSMC.

Interested in adopting? Visit the Humane Society of Marathon County website at www.catsndogs.org to view available cats and learn more about the adoption process.