Chicago Animal Shelters Team Up For Weekend Cat Adoption Event

CHICAGO (CBS) – Four of Chicago's animal shelters will team up this weekend for a cat adoption event aimed at easing the impact of "kitten season" or cat breeding season during spring and summer – the only time of the year when cats breed. The result is an influx of cats and kittens at animal shelters.

"We have lots and lots of cats and kittens coming in," says Dr. Robyn Barbiers, President of The Anti-Cruelty Society in Chicago. "It's a strain on all shelters and today we have 379 cats in our care whereas we would like to keep it down around 200 if at all possible."

During the special two-day event, called Windy City Feline Frenzy, cat adopters will receive major discounts on adoption fees during special drawings. Four shelters, including The Anti-Cruelty Society, Chicago Animal Care and Control, Felines and Canines and Tree House Humane Society will take part.

"It's four shelters working together with one goal and that is to place more cats in homes," says Barbiers. "Those four shelters are running a special on adult cats, cats that are over six-months-old and you get to scoop your price."

Potential adopters will use plastic shoves to scoop into kitty litter for discounted adoption fees. "There will be $50 adoption fees, $25 adoption fees, no adoption fee and name your price," Barbiers says.

Will there be anything else in the litter?

"No, it's just going to be kitty litter and little plastic eggs that you scoop up. No real material," she jokes.

The Anti-Cruelty Society's adoption hours are from 12pm-5pm; Chicago Animal Care and Control are 12pm-3pm and 4pm-7pm; Felines & Canines from 12:30pm-6pm and Tree House Humane Society from 12p-6pm both Saturday and Sunday.

For more information, visit www.anticruelty.org. To listen to the full interview with Dr. Robyn Barbiers, click here.

©2013 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All rights reserved.