The Austin Vet Clinic and Mower County Humane Society are pushing for fewer stray cats, but they’re looking for a little more help from pet owners.

The two organizations are in the midst of their fourth annual spay and neuter clinic, in which they spay and neuter cats for a reduced cost — $35 per spay and $20 per neuter. With funds raised by both organizations, the Austin Vet Clinic will be able to spay and neuter roughly 160 cats or more in March. But MCHS is looking for more people to fill vacancies by the end of the month. Kelly Rush, a volunteer at the Humane Society, said the clinic usually performs 175 surgeries. And during the past four years, Rush has seen a decline in the number of stray cats and unwanted breeding.

“We have noticed a drop in the number of female cats coming in pregnant, so that’s a big plus,” she said.

Rush mentioned that whether people love cats or hate them, the spay and neuter clinic is a good program because it reduces population, sicknesses, poor pet behavior and the risk of cats getting cancer.

“It’s a win-win situation all the way around,” she said.

Those who wish to sign up can contact either organization. Cats are generally dropped off at the vet clinic in the morning and taken home at night. Rush said it is also a good time to get pets caught up on vaccinations.

For more information, contact the Humane Society at 507-437-9262 or Austin Vet Clinic at 507-433-5225.

MCHS will also host the Minnesota Spay Neuter Assistance Program on June 29 in its parking lot — a mobile program that travels around the state and performs spays and neuters on rabbits, dogs, cats and more at a reduced cost. To sign up for that program, go to www.mnsnap.org.