PAWS Chicago van to rescue 18 cats from flood-ravaged Iowa [Video]

CHICAGO — A PAWS Chicago rescue van left for Iowa on Friday to help rescue cats affected by severe flooding.

PAWS Volunteers will pick up 18 cats—9 males and 9 females—ranging in age from 13 months to 7 years old. The impending cats are mostly strays, while others were owner surrenders who were already in the shelter when severe storms struck.

Helpers are bringing supplies to the Humane Society of Northwestern Iowa.

SEE ALSO: Dog who spent 420 days in Midwest shelter finally gets to sleep in home of her own

Animal shelter officials say the rescue will help make room in the Iowa shelter for displaced pets.

RELATED: Iowa floodwaters breach levees as even more rain forecast for drenched Midwest

The rescued cats should arrive in Chicago by Saturday afternoon and be available for adoption by Monday.

Iowa and other parts of the Midwest encountered flooding issues following torrential rains across the …