There is someone I know who has taken in 15 cats in the past 5-6 years. The problem? They are locked in her basement. She gives them vet care, food, changes the litter but you could pass out to step in there. Some are really sick and she's brought them to the vet but they don't get better (respiratory problems, weeping eyes). What do you think? Report her? Now that it's cold, she'll probably take more in b/c that's her pattern.
2007-01-19 01:44:08 · 17 answers · asked by Sylvia 4 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
She's never formally adopted an animal from a shelter. She doesn't trust shelters at all, even the "no kill." Believe me, we've tried to talk her into that many times. All were "wild" or abandoned animals. She goes to spots where she knows they live (forested areas mostly) and feeds them.
I didn't realize 15 cats was hoarding. Wow.
2007-01-19 01:59:25 · update #1
Thank you everyone who seriously answered. I will call & report now that I know it can be done anonymously.
2007-01-19 03:02:01 · update #2
Even if she has only the best of intentions, if she's not keeping their living area clean, and they're living in crowded conditions, then she isn't really helping them.
Reporting her would be better for her health and for the cats, before the hoarding reaches nightmare proportions.
Edit: just having 15 cats may or may not be hoarding - what matters is how the cats are kept. If they have sufficient space that they aren't suffering from overcrowding stress, and if they are kept healthy and their living areas are kept clean, then 15 cats is probably OK (though it's way too many for me!). But if you are knocked over by the odor when you walk in, then the cats are probably suffering stress from overcrowding and are spraying, and the place isn't being kept clean. To me, that's what qualifies it as hoarding. And when you say she keeps adding more, it sounds like it may be on its way to getting worse.
Feeding strays in the woods is fine, as long as she traps them & gets them spayed and neutered. If she's just feeding them & not getting them 'fixed', then that's bad - it just attracts more breeding strays.
2007-01-19 01:56:18 · answer #1 · answered by Bess2002 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You really should contact your local animal control office. Cats do not do well healthwise when they are confined in such large numbers, and if they are not gettin better under veterinary care, then there is a real problem. This is a hoarder, who clearly believes that she is doing the right thing by taking in the cats, but obviously cannot care for so many animals. If you can smell urine and feces, then there is an urgent situation here.
Most hoarders have no concept that their actions are actually hurting the animals, rather than helping them, and don't understand that their health can be as badly impacted as the cats. They live in the same filthy conditions and need help too. Animal control often works with social workers to help the hoarders while they deal with the animals.
For the sake of the animals as well as this woman, call animal control. They will investigate the situation and remove the cats and provide them with proper care.
2007-01-19 03:21:20 · answer #2 · answered by Ravanne_1 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Are you sure the vet gave him a clean bill of health and that this was not a urinary infection? Blood tests would tell about kidney function, not about infection in the bladder. A test of the urine determines this. If he's clear on both counts, get a second box and fill it with sandbox sand. NO cat bypasses peeing in sand. If you switched litters or the litter has a strong perfume smell as odor control--that puts a lot of cats off of using the box. If the box is covered a lot of cats refuse to use it, feeling trapped inside. And check with the other people in the house, did anyone think it was 'funny' to scare the cat out of his box when he was trying to use it? The cat would not consider the box safe anymore. More than one cat has switched pee/poop preferences because some idiot thought it was funny to scare the cat. Were the throw carpets new? The plastic rug backing on most small carpets has a chemical smell t it that an awful lot of dogs and cats interpret as 'urine'.
2016-05-24 06:42:23 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's probably mold in her basement. That may be what's causing their recurring sickness that never seems to get better. Some people who do this (in patterns like you mentioned) have mental problems. I once worked with a lady who hoarded cats. Some of them dead that she thought were sleeping. This hoarding could be a symptom of something worse. It may be beneficial for her to get evaluated by her doctor. I would try to offer to help her with the cats first, and talk with her- possibly with someone there that she's a bit closer to. She could face criminal charges if she resists turning them over, and if she does have a medical problem, it wouldn't help her if she is in handcuffs instead of a doctor's office. Clearly, if the smell is *that* bad, and it doesn't bother her, there has to be something wrong.
2007-01-19 02:05:14 · answer #4 · answered by punchy333 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yes, if it smells bad enough for a human to just about pass out a kitty would be miserable in there. If you report her and it's better than you think no action will be taken and she will never know you reported her. They can keep her from adopting from the local shelters as well. I know that means she will just have to get strays but it will at least slow her collecting down. Good luck and I will pray for the kitties.
2007-01-19 01:50:31 · answer #5 · answered by The Faery of P 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Yes i would report her. It is important that the cats are healthy and I cannot see that happening with so many in a tiny enclosure together. This woman needs to understand that she is doing the cats no favor by keeping them in those kind of conditions. She may not be physically abusing them but she is neglecting them and that is not OK. I hope that you are able to get the SPCA in to that basement to save those kitties. Good luck and remember you do not have to identify yourself when you call to report her.
2007-01-19 01:58:32 · answer #6 · answered by Somanyquestions,solittletime 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It's time to call animal control before she winds up having 50. She could get help now and avoid a bigger problem later.
2007-01-19 02:22:39 · answer #7 · answered by sugarcarat 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes REPORT IT! Even though she is trying to help the cats they are truely suffering. There are many cat havens that are no kill. Mabey she could get affiliated with one of them and help to rescue the kitties that way.
2007-01-19 02:07:24 · answer #8 · answered by Doll 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Report! Those poor kitties!
2007-01-19 01:58:39 · answer #9 · answered by All I have to do is dream... 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
She sounds like she had a mental disability. There is a mental illness that causes someone to do this. I would call.
2007-01-19 02:00:37 · answer #10 · answered by KathyS 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋