Carolina Street Cats

22/08/2025

Today’s Shelter Animal Spotlight Is
✨ Sue! ✨

Meet Sue, a 10 month old spayed female with a personality as sweet as her face. She’s fully up-to-date on her shots and ready for her forever home!

Sue has the cutest little crinkle ear & it doesn’t bother her one bit, but it makes her extra special and unforgettable. While the tiny kittens around her often steal the spotlight, Sue is still a playful youngster with plenty of kitten energy left to share.

She’s affectionate, unique, and has a wonderful personality that shines the more you get to know her. Sue is eager to find a family who will love her for the darling, one-of-a-kind girl she is. 💕

🐾 Could this sweetheart be your perfect match?

Adoption hours:
🕰️ Monday-Friday: 1PM to 5PM
🕰️ Saturday: 10AM to 3PM

📍3340 Presson Rd
Monroe NC

20/08/2025

🐾 The cat adoption room at our local shelter is full of little personalities waiting to meet you—tiny kittens, playful teens, and wise adults, each with so much love to give. 💕

Every adoption makes room for another cat in need, but most importantly, it brings joy and companionship to both you and them.

When we volunteer, we see how their faces light up when someone stops at their kennel. They’re not just waiting for “anyone”—they’re waiting for their person. Maybe that’s you? ✨

Union County Animal Services, NC Hours:
Monday-Friday: 1PM to 5PM
Saturday – Clear the Shelter Event! 10AM–3PM
📍 3340 Presson Rd, Monroe, NC

Come visit, spend time with them, and see who captures your heart. Your new best friend could be waiting just behind one of those kennel doors 🐱❤️

20/08/2025

Today’s Shelter Animal Spotlight Is Shiva 🐾🌟 The Sweet & Spunky Tabby! ✨

Shiva is a 2-year-old tabby beauty 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 💔😭. She’s already spayed, up to date on vaccines, and dewormed – healthy and all set for her next adventure.

This girl is the full package:
🐾 Playful & Fun – She makes the cutest little chirps when she’s excited and loves to play.
🐾 Sweet & Gentle – Shiva has a tender, affectionate side and melts when she gets attention.
🐾 Easygoing – She’s an easy cat to carry and handle, making her a joy to have around.

If you’re looking for a cat who will bring laughter, love, and light to your home, Shiva is your girl. 💕

Adoption hours:
🕰️ Monday-Friday: 1PM to 5PM
🕰️ Saturday: 10AM to 3PM

📍3340 Presson Rd
Monroe NC

19/08/2025

What is an Open-Admission Animal Shelter Like Union County Animal Services, NC? 🐾🐈🐕‍🦺

An 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧-𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐬 (𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬) 𝐧𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐞, 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡, 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐫, 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞.

Unlike private rescues or managed intake shelters that can say “no,” open-admission shelters are 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮’𝙨 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚𝙩𝙮 𝙣𝙚𝙩.
𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙨:
✅Found a stray? They take it.
✅Owner can’t keep their pet anymore? They take it.
✅Animal came from a cruelty or neglect case? They hold them.
✅An animal bit you and needs a rabies quarantine? They hold them.
✅Injured, sick, or even aggressive? They still take them.

Because of this, open-admission shelters often face overcrowding and heartbreaking decisions. It’s not because the staff doesn’t care, it’s because they have to make room for the next animal that walks in.

There are only so many kennels. Every day is different. Every day is unpredictable. Every day a new animal.

👉 And 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬. 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐞, 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐩𝐞𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐨.

Event details 🔗: https://www.facebook.com/share/19w6GmVghE/?mibextid=wwXIfr

18/08/2025

🚨🐾 The Countdown is ON! 🐾🚨

In just 5 days, Union County Animal Services, NC will be buzzing with wagging tails, happy families, and second chances. ❤️

👉 Clear the Shelter Event – find your new best friend and give them the home they’ve been waiting for.
👉 Low-Cost Rabies Clinic – keep your existing pets safe and healthy while you’re here!

📅 This Saturday 8/22/25
📍 Union County Animal Services
3340 Presson Rd, Monroe NC

✨ Whether you’re looking to adopt, vaccinate, or simply cheer on the animals, THIS is the event you don’t want to miss!

➡️ Stay tuned each day this week as we spotlight the shelter and some of the adoptable pets waiting for their big chance this Saturday. 🐶🐱



Event details 🔗: https://www.facebook.com/share/19w6GmVghE/?mibextid=wwXIfr

14/08/2025

TNVR isn’t just birth control for cats, it’s their healthcare plan. 👩‍⚕️🐈

Through Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return, community cats get spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and sometimes treated for other medical needs they’d never otherwise receive. Most outdoor cats aren’t sickly strays in desperate need of “saving”, they’re healthy, street-smart, and well-adapted to their environment. TNVR lets them keep living their best lives, while ensuring they’re protected and no longer adding to the cycle of unwanted homeless kittens.

11/08/2025

Today’s vibe? ✨🐈‍⬛ Channel your inner cat. 🐾

Be kind of a bitch about spay & neuter.
Be kind of a bitch about your boundaries.
Be kind of a bitch to the person pushing you to take that animal you can’t.
Be kind of a bitch about that thing you don’t believe in.

Cats don’t apologize for protecting their space and neither should you. 🫶💗

07/08/2025

There’s nothing sweeter than being chosen by a cat. 💗🐈That slow blink. That porch sit. That moment they decide you are home.

But when a cat picks you, it’s more than a vibe ✨it’s a responsibility. Love them back the right way: , and commit for the long haul.

& if your kitty is more of a porch pirate than a couch potato, remember to get ‘em ear-tipped during the adventure. It’s the universal sign that someone cared. 🫶🐈‍⬛

06/08/2025

Another mom and kittens message came in today… and yesterday… and the day before that 🫩😮‍💨.

We’re not mad, we just need people to truly understand how important the advice is that we give. Because almost every time someone finds a cat with kittens outside, it’s the same situation:

❗️It’s not a pet cat.
❗️She’s not “lost.”
❗️She’s a community cat — one who’s lived outside for years, survived on her own, and raised litter after litter because no one took the time out of their busy life to show her compassion and get her spayed.

And now here we are, once again, being asked to “help them.”

Let’s be clear:
We will always advocate for these cats. But 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 “𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝, 𝐰𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐱.” Rescue means we all play a part.

At Carolina Street Cats, we pride ourselves on education and empowering community members to be the solution, not just the handoff.

✅We can give you step-by-step guidance.
✅We can show you how to set up a safe space.
✅We can connect you with low-cost spay/neuter options.
✅We can even do the trap-neuter-return (TNR) and post-surgery recovery for you — but you have to be willing to meet us halfway.

Because what we can’t do is keep carrying the full weight while others look away.

So if you’ve messaged us about a mom and kittens and this post resonates with you, please dig deep. Instead of “I can’t,” ask:

💭 “What can I do?”
Because there’s always something.

Let’s stop the cycle. 𝐋𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐱 𝐦𝐨𝐦. Let’s give these kittens a chance. 𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫. 🤝

05/08/2025

Since our recent post about the importance of “Return” gained so much attention, we wanted to follow up with something just as important:
💨 The Vacuum Effect — what really happens when you “just remove the cats.”

When cats are taken away from their territory, it creates a void.
And nature hates a void.
New, unsterilized cats move in. The cycle continues. Often, it gets worse.

🚫 Removal isn’t the solution.
✅ TNR is.
Trap. Neuter. Return — not just anywhere, but back home.

Return protects the cats already surviving there and prevents new ones from coming in.

If you want lasting change, Return is not optional.
We’re here to help you do it right.

𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐮𝐦 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 🛸 🌪️?

Here’s the surprising truth: 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗮, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘁𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴. 𝗜𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁, 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 "𝘃𝗮𝗰𝘂𝘂𝗺" 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱, 𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆. This is known as the Vacuum Effect.

So, 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧? When a group of outdoor cats 🐈 🐈‍⬛ is removed, it causes a temporary drop ⬇️ in the population. However, because the area still offers resources, other cats from neighboring areas move in to take advantage. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝘀—𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝘀—𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲. 𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱.

The Vacuum Effect happens in many species, not just cats. It’s why 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙖 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙢. In fact, it often makes things worse, creating a continuous, expensive cycle 🔁 of removal with no 🚫long-term impact.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧? Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR). TNVR humanely traps, neuters, vaccinates and returns cats to 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 📍𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. This prevents new litters and stabilizes the population over time, breaking the cycle of the Vacuum Effect 🛸 🌪️ .

Understanding this concept is crucial to managing community cat populations effectively. 𝙱𝚢 𝚏𝚘𝚌𝚞𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚗 𝚃𝙽𝚅𝚁, 𝚠𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚎 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚊 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚏𝚞𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚗𝚎𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚋𝚘𝚛𝚑𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚜.

04/08/2025

🔍 The Secret Lives of the Cats You Never See. They’re out there watching, waiting, surviving.

Not pets.
Not strays.
They’re community cats, feral, untouchable, and often invisible to the people who live right alongside them.

But behind every tipped ear is someone who showed up for them when no one else did.

These cats have survived out here long before anyone even noticed them. Now we’re just trying to help them do it safely.

Most people don’t realize these cats have been living in the neighborhood for years.
They know where to hide when it rains.
They know which porch has a warm corner, which alley stays quiet, and which humans leave food out.
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐟 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡.

And while most people never see them, TNVR volunteers do.
We see the scars. The fear. The exhaustion.
We’re the ones trapping at all hours, crouched in the weeds, skipping dinner just to catch the cat that dodged us last week.
Sometimes it takes days. Sometimes months. But we keep going.

Because TNVR isn’t just about stopping kittens it’s about protecting these cats right where they are, in the only life they’ve ever known. 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭.

✋🏼🛑So if you spot a cat with a clipped ear, don’t assume they’re lost or abandoned.

That ear tip means someone cared enough to make sure they wouldn’t be forgotten.

01/08/2025

🐾 Weekend Union County Animal Services, NC Adoptbles Spotlight: Help Us Find Their Forever Homes! 🐾

This weekend, we’re putting the spotlight on some amazing animals at Union County Animal Services who are still waiting patiently for the love they deserve. 💛

😺 Faye & Shadow – These two adult cats have been passed over time and again simply because they aren’t kittens. But they’ve been patiently waiting… hoping for someone to look past age and see their gentle, loving hearts. They’re calm, cuddly, and full of quiet charm — all they need now is you.

🐶 CC – This sweet soul is searching for a quiet home where she can finally exhale. She’s shy at first, but once she learns she can trust you, she’ll blossom. With love and compassion, CC will become the loyal, loving companion she was always meant to be.

🐶 Janice – Don’t let her energy in the kennel fool you — she just needs the chance to decompress outside those walls. Let her stretch her legs, soak up the sun, and you’ll meet a fun, playful dog who’s ready to be your sidekick.

✨ Adult pets often get overlooked, but they have just as much love to give. Let’s make sure they’re seen. Let’s help them go home.

Adoptable cats 🐱:
https://www.facebook.com/share/1XzkD7ZMVr/?
Adoptable dogs 🐶:
https://www.facebook.com/share/1G4VPF82qH/?

📍Union County Animal Services | 3340 Presson Rd Monroe, NC
🕐 Open for adoptions Monday-Friday 1PM TO 5PM
Saturday 10AM TO 3PM