Mystery grows as cats in carriers found along US 74 in western NC, sheriff says
A search is underway in western North Carolina for the culprit abandoning cats in pet carriers along U.S. 74, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
The discoveries began the second week of April, and so far eight cats have been found under such circumstances, the sheriff’s office said in an April 24 news release.
In each case, the pets were left at U.S. 74 intersections northeast of Columbus.
- April 13, a mother cat and four kittens were left at the on ramp onto U.S. 74 E. off N.C. 108 near Fox Mountain Road.
- April 15, a gray tabby female cat that recently had kittens was left at the on ramp onto U.S. 74 E. off N.C. 9.
- April 21, a black long-haired cat was left at the on ramp onto U.S. 74 E off N.C. 9.
- April 22, a cat was left at the on ramp onto U.S. 74 E off N.C. 108, near Fox Mountain Road.
News of the abandonments has prompted outrage on social media, with many calling for the person to be prosecuted when caught.
“They need to put these people in carriers and leave them out somewhere!” one commenter wrote on the sheriff’s office Facebook page.
Temperatures on the dates involved have ranged from highs in the upper 80s to lows near 40 degrees, AccuWeather reports.
Abandoning pets is a Class 2 misdemeanor in North Carolina and violations can result in a $1,000 find and up to 60 days jail.
Polk County is about an 85-mile drive west from uptown Charlotte.
This story was originally published April 29, 2026 at 2:23 PM with the headline "Mystery grows as cats in carriers found along US 74 in western NC, sheriff says."