CHARLOTTE, N.C. — An apartment complex in east Charlotte is trying to get rid of nearly 30 stray cats that live on its property, but residents and volunteers are seeking solutions for the felines in hopes of saving their lives.
The Arcadian Village apartments have friendly residents: Both the human residents and the furry four-legged ones.
"Every time a stray cat gets sick, I usually take them to the vet," Najeeb Uddin Syed told WCNC Charlotte's Julia Kauffman.
The strays often lounge behind buildings and under cars throughout the community.
"I’m not giving them proper shelter or anything, just food," Syed said.
Syed and other neighbors take care of the strays from time to time, but property management doesn’t allow it.
"I used to feed right in front of my door for the stray cats and [management] gave me a warning: 'Hey, you cannot feed the cats,'” Syed recalled.
Management wants the cats out. Now, Syed is being forced out too, without a formal explanation.
"I received a nonrenewal notice," he shared. "I said, 'I know what you’re doing, it’s because of the cats.'"
Syed has lived at Arcadian Village for 12 years. Neighbors and volunteers said tension is rising over the strays.
"They were told that all the cats that were outside the premises were going to be relocated by a wildlife relocator," Wendy Porter, a volunteer with Friends of Feral Felines, said.
Residents worried the cats would die or be killed, so the local cat advocators stepped in to help.
"We need to have the cooperation of the apartment communities and we’re just there to help them," Porter explained.
Friends of Feral Felines helps properties across Charlotte safely take care of strays. Volunteer Mindy Cetel said the only way to fix the problem, is to get the cats fixed.
"We’re getting spayed, neutered, and adopted, every possible cat we can get out of there," Cetel said.
The goal is to allow the strays to live out their lives outside without reproducing. The property wants all cats adopted, but Cetel said that could make room for new strays to move in.
"Euthanasia, it fails," Cetel said. "That’s why this is scientifically proven to be the only solution."
Cetel and Porter said stray cat overpopulation is a citywide problem that needs more attention and government funding to fix. Their goal is to partner with properties to create safe, healthy, and happy environments for people and cats.
WCNC Charlotte reached out to the Arcadian Village property manager, who chose not to comment.
If someone is interested in adopting a cat or kitten, Friends of Feral Felines can be contacted here.
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Contact Julia Kauffman at jkauffman@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.