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By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor

Local shelters are currently working to handle a significant influx of cats after law enforcement found 80-plus felines living in poor condition in a Harpersville home.

Katdadde Inc., a non-profit based in Pinson, is currently overwhelmed after taking in 52 of the cats on Monday, June 2 that came from the home.

“52 cats arrived at our shelter last night and Todd (Lehman) was up all night feeding/watering and getting everyone settled in,” read an official Facebook post by Katdadde Inc. on June 3. “Today we began efforts to coordinate medical care.”

The cats were initially to be taken to the Shelby Humane Society incrementally by Shelby County Animal Control. However, as the plans shifted, animal control brought the cats to Shelby Humane all at once on Monday which would have overwhelmed the shelter. They were then quickly loaded up for care by Katdadde Inc. in U-Haul trailers to be transported to the organization’s facility in Pinson.

“When the cats came in, they had been out in the sun basically for six, seven, eight hours,” said Todd Lehman, founder of Katdadde Inc. “Obviously, they were exhausted. At the location, they had put towels over the crates and put ice on there to try and keep them cool, and that helped.”

Lehman spent the entire night providing food and water for the cats. After the situation became known, several residents donated to the organization to help assist with the care of the sudden influx of animals.

The remaining felines were then found and picked up from the Harpersville residence on June 3 and brought to the Shelby Humane Society, where they are currently caring for 11 adult cats.

The Greater Birmingham Humane Society communicated with Katdadde Inc. on June 3 and organized initial checks on the cats with plans for next week to ensure they are spayed/neutered.

Those interested in learning more about Katdadde Inc. or that wish to assist with the cats may visit Linktr.ee/katdadde.

Those wishing to adopt an animal may learn more by visiting Shelbyhumane.org or can bring donations to help with the organization’s effort by visiting its location in Columbiana.