edmontonsun.com

Sun, April 16, 2006
House held 80 cats

By SUN MEDIA

CALGARY -- Criminal charges could be laid against a woman following a raid that uncovered two dead cats and as many as 80 other dehydrated and malnourished felines.

City bylaw officers and the Calgary Humane Society responded to complaints about the infestation of cats inside a home on Friday evening.

The neglected animals had overrun the squalid house, lurking underneath beds and couches and inside kitchen cupboards, said Bill Bruce, the city's director of animal and bylaw services.

"This isn't the worst one we've seen, but it's definitely in the top 10," said Bruce.

A rank stench wafted from inside the house, where cat urine and feces smothered the floor, he said.

"It was disgusting," said Bruce, adding there was no food or water for the cats.

Humane society spokesman Cheryl Wallach said the unvaccinated animals were at high risk of disease. Wallach is frustrated the animals were subjected to such appalling living conditions, but stressed hoarding animals is a sign of mental illness.

Neighbour Sylvia Mitchell said a woman in her 50s lives in the home, but she's out of town visiting family. Mitchell said she's thankful the cats have been rescued.

The cats were lured into cages using sardines as bait, said Wallach.