Hoarding - 86 cats seized
Battlement Mesa, CO (US)

Incident Date: Wednesday, Oct 1, 2008
County: Garfield

Disposition: Not Charged

Abuser names unreleased

Eighty-six cats were removed by Animal Control officials from a Battlement Mesa woman's home and taken to the Colorado Animal Rescue (CARE) shelter on Wednesday.

The woman had been living with the 86 cats in her two-bedroom apartment. She called authorities to help her when they became unmanageable, according to the Garfield County Sheriff's office.

Sheriff's spokeswoman Tanny McGinnis called the conditions of the apartment "unhealthy," but the cat lover has not been charged with animal cruelty or any other crime.

"Her only thoughts were to give stray cats a home," McGinnis said in an e-mail statement. "She eventually became overwhelmed."

It is unclear exactly when the number of cats proved sufficiently overwhelming for the woman to seek assistance from authorities.

McGinnis said it was the largest cat seizure she knew of since "several dozens" of cats were taken from a Parachute man six years ago.

The cats are being vaccinated and cleaned at the shelter. Some are being treated for illnesses.

CARE officials are hoping to adopt the felines out to new homes.

References

• Aspen Daily News - Oct 2, 2008

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