The Fort Erie SPCA is overloaded with kittens after receiving a call from a Crystal Beach resident who found 11 felines while renovating his garage on Dovercourt Road. In the garage were four adult cats and seven kittens.

"It was their little home," said Wendy Trombley, assistant manager at the animal shelter. We don't know why they've been there."

In total, 19 cats were picked up by the SPCA on June 19, including one that is about to give birth. The influx forced staff to double, triple and quadruple up cats in cages as well as use rabbit cages to safely house the abundance of cats.

"It's non-stop right now," said Robyn Voyce, an animal control officer. "We had three empty cages earlier this week, but now we're beyond full."

Kennel attendant Lee Ann Jarvis said the cats will keep on coming throughout the summer.

"It's like trying to empty the Niagara River with an eye dropper," she said.

Trombley said cats who aren't properly taken care of is what the SPCA deals with every day.

"If people are going to get an animal, just feeding it is not enough. They have to spay it or neuter it. This is what happens when cats are allowed to roam or are left out. There were nine females and each one could have a litter which turns into 54 more kittens," said Trombley. "People think it's cute to (allow their cat to) have kittens, but it's not. It becomes somebody else's problem when cats are dumped in the country."

She said the problem of multiplying strays can be prevented by spaying, neutering and not feeding strays.

The cat cages at the SPCA are currently full with plenty of affectionate felines. The adoption fee for cats is $80 and includes a $25 voucher to spay or neuter the animal. To adopt a kitten or any other animal, call the Fort Erie SPCA at 905-871-2461 or visit the location at 410 Jarvis St.