Can you give a home to a cat in need?

The Thunder Bay and District Humane Society says it's in a state of crisis.

It's desperately searching for adoptive homes for cats, after investigators found dozens of felines in poor health in two recent north end investigations.

The shelter was already at capacity before the investigations, said Human Society executive director Melanie Blanchette.

Then, last month, twenty three cats were found abandoned in a dog crate.

Shortly after,approximately 50 more cats were removed from a north end home after complaints to the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, she added.

"So basically, within the span of a week and a half to two weeks, we took in almost 80 cats," Blanchette said. "Our board room, our offices, our hallways, our laundry areas and our storage areas are all makeshift housing facilities."

The recent arrivals still need medical care and aren't up for adoption yet, Blanchette said.

Many of those cats are malnourished and suffering from upper respiratory infections and eyeinfections, she said.

Instead, the society is trying to find homes for its healthy, longer-term residents in order to free up space.

It's slashed its adoption rates from $150 to $50 to attract would-be adopters, said Jon Focht, the society's events, marketing and communications coordinator.

Blanchette said those who can't adopt can contribute cat food, non-clumping cat litter, and money to help pay for care and medical treatment for the ailing cats.