BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Kathlene Still left animal control Monday with a heavy heart after turning in a feral cat she had trapped.

"It's bad. I don't want to bring in a cat, but they're just wild and they make more kittens," said Still.

Still said she knows the chances of that cat being euthanized is are high. Guy Shaw of County Animal Control says cats have an 82 percent euthanasia rate whereas dogs face a 45 percent euthanasia rate.

"People are just not adopting as many cats. We don't have as many rescues that can rescue the cats because they are full themselves. Also we don't have shelters that want to transfer cats to their shelters," said Shaw.

In 2008, 1,271 cats were rescued, but last year only 710 were rescued. Shaw says half of cats brought into the shelter are not adoptable because they are too wild. In 2009, animal control took in 13,805 cats. Of those, 11,010 were euthanized to make room for more cats. Shaw says cat owners not spaying or neutering their pet is the main reason behind the high euthanasia rate. Also compassionate people can be more of a hindrance than a help.

"The problem is people tend to see a stray cat, feel sorry for it, put food out and that cat gets domesticated, and the next thing you know they breed," said Shaw.

If you want to help, Shaw suggests trapping stray cats and either look for the owner or turn it in to animal control instead of letting it breed. Also spay or neuter your cat if you have one.