So far in 2011, Burnaby has seen 55 cats being rescued by a Vancouver group, but that number may be even bigger due to a recent 100-cat and kitten situation.

The Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association (VOKRA) saved more than 100 cats and kittens across the Lower Mainland in one week.

The rescued furry creatures are now in the care of VOKRA, which has been overwhelmed by the sudden influx of rescues and it's seeking foster homes, adopters and donations.

The group also traps, neuters and releases (TNR) an average of 50 cats per year and rescues an average of 25 mom cats with 100 kittens. The TNR program has been running in Burnaby for the past five years.

"One of our projects was a TNR of a feral cat colony near Metrotown about eight years ago, which had reduced the rat population, but those cats have since died from old age, and the rat population is growing again," said Maria Soroski, TNR program coordinator.

There are only 18 foster homes in Burnaby and the group is hoping for more applications from potential foster families.

"VOKRA had made a presentation to the mayor and council about a year and a half ago requesting funding to maintain and expand the TNR program in Burnaby, and we would be happy to start discussions to help the animal populations in Burnaby," she added.

The association is seeking financial support from the public to take care of these cats and kittens, and upgrade their health so they're adoption ready.

"In one day, we took about 40 surrendered cats from a single home, including five mothers with kittens and two other litters without moms," Karen Duncan, VOKRA's president, said in a press release. "We know kitten season starts in spring every year, but we weren't prepared for all these cats right now. They are an enormous strain on our already limited resources, and we urgently need donations to pay their vet bills. We also need suitable foster homes and adopters."

VOKRA took in 208 cats this June, which is a 24 per cent increase from last year.

Many of the rescued four-legged animals are kittens, pregnant cats and nursing mothers with kittens.

"We recognize the tremendous support we have received from the community in the past," Duncan added. "Unfortunately, there were many cat situations in the Lower Mainland that got out of hand at the same time, and now we need extra help to alleviate the problem."

The rescued cats' health gets assessed, while many are already past due for being spayed or neutered. Some have serious illnesses or medical problems that run bills into the hundreds of dollars.

VOKRA's mandate is to take care of cats and kittens that were abandoned, surrendered from home or trapped from feral colonies in Burnaby, Vancouver, Surrey and White Rock.

To make a donation, become a foster or adopter, visit www.vokra.ca.