FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM The Hawaiian Humane Society is offering a two-for-one deal on cats to move out the high number of cats at the shelter. In the cat house on Saturday, Laurie Mitchell, right, held one of the cats up for adoption. Seated behind her is Patricia Young. The promotion continues through this week.

Influx of strays spurs cat promotion

Adopters can get two cats for the price of one this week

Elaine Pearl wanted a cat from the Hawaiian Humane Society, but one wasn't enough.

Her husband and son picked out one each, thinking that the cats would need company, Pearl said.

"I wanted the cat, and guess who picked the cats?" Pearl said, pointing to her husband and son.

It also didn't hurt that the Humane Society is conducting a two-for-one sale. The organization began offering the promotion to handle an influx of 1,515 homeless cats and kittens during the month of August. About 50 cats a day are still coming in.

The Humane Society hopes to find more people like the Pearls.

"We are really excited about finding cats good homes," said Darcie Scharfenstein, director of community relations for the Humane Society.

There are "around 75 to 100 cats in the cat house," the display for felines up for adoption, said Pamela Burns, president and CEO of the Humane Society.

Scharfenstein said, "Typically, we see (cats) breeding over the springtime and then the babies come in during the warmer summer months."

But this year's summer influx is later than usual.

"We think the heavy rains in March caused the breeding season to be pushed back a bit," Scharfenstein said. "Usually the spike is in June or July."

So far, the promotion has been working. Over the weekend, the kittens in the cat house were all adopted.

The Kimball family from Hawaii Kai got the last one.

"I liked another cat," said Asha Kimball, 10. "Its name is Ashley, but we're trying to get kittens, so that's why we got this one."

"It's cute and it's tiny," said Zane Kimball, 2, as he looked at the black, 3-month-old kitten peering through holes in a white cardboard travel box.

The Kimballs came to the Humane Society because they wanted to help animals needing homes.

"I don't really believe in going to the pet store," said Scott Kimball, 41.

The Humane Society expects to refill the cat house today.

"We have about 47 cats or kittens that are waiting to come in and get prepped and ready for adoption," Scharfenstein said last week. The cats were being fostered out or awaiting surgery.

Pearl said: "It feels really good. We wanted to get the adult cat because we know kittens get adopted out really quickly."

She added, "It's so rewarding when cats get left for strays ... and they find a good home."

Currently, two cats can be adopted for $60 throughout this week and will continue next week if inventory remains high.

Spay/neuter surgery, health exams and a microchip implant are some of the services included in the adoption cost.

"The services would total up to $200 (for each cat) if you were at an outside vet, so people are getting a real deal," Scharfenstein said.