ANIMALS
150 Neglected Cats and Kittens Found Inside Deceased Couple’s Home in SPCA Westchester’s Largest Rescue in History
A New York couple was found dead this week, and a local shelter is struggling to support 150 cats and kittens found trapped in their “dilapidated” home, officials said.
Yorktown Police officers performed a wellness check at a home on Cordial Road in Yorktown on Tuesday, and found the homeowners deceased. Their names have not been released.
First responders had difficulty entering the home due to hoarding conditions and dozens of cats in every room, “including the walls and ceilings,” according to a Thursday statement from the Westchester Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
“This week SPCA Westchester undertook the largest rescue in our history,” the organization wrote on Facebook, alongside photos of the rescued cats. The SPCA’s Humane Law Enforcement (HLE) unit was called to assist “at a horrific scene where 150 cats were discovered living in filth and squalor and being hoarded inside a small dilapidated home.”
The Westchester SPCA said all of the cats, which appear to be Abyssinian mixes, show signs of being neglected for years, and likely hadnt had access to water or food in many days. All of the cats are suffering malnutrition and dehydration, as well as upper respiratory, eye and skin infections.
“Due to the stress of the situation, one of the cats actually gave birth while in transit from the residence to the SPCAs Rescue Center, and many others appear to be pregnant,” the SPCA said. “Sadly, some have more severe injuries that require immediate medical attention.”
The organization expects their veterinary care and rehabilitation to cost “well over $40,000,” and is seeking donations. “Even after all that they’ve been through, the cats are incredibly sweet and just want to be loved.”
