Cats are captivating, magical and adorable -- but there's such a thing as having too many house cats. When compassion becomes compulsion, it's called hoarding.
These groomed, well-fed pets are in far better shape than those rescued from squalor on Elsie Drive in West Bloomfield. (Photo: DepositPhotos)
An Oakland County animal control officer, Rachel Whitlock, discovered an epic example at a West Bloomfield home in the 1700 block of Elsie Drive when she responded to a neighbor's call about cats abandoned inside. A county news release tells what happened next:
Looking through the home's windows, she spotted at least a half-dozen cats who appeared to be somewhat ill and left with no food and water in unsanitary living conditions.
After Whitlock spoke to the complainant and neighbors, she obtained a search warrant to remove the cats from the home, which she and a supervisor executed that evening with the assistance of the West Bloomfield Police Department. When they entered the house, however, they discovered at least 100 cats.
Actually, there were more. An astonishing 178 cats were taken from the residence between April 24 and May 17, authorities say. Five dozen were euthanized "because of severe illness or aggression," the 11-paragraph release adds.
"The homeowner couple apparently doesn't live at the house on Elsie, off Greer near Hiller," Mike Campbell of WWJ tweets Tuesday morning with three photos of the home (below),
The unnamed owner is expected to face animal neglect and abuse charges. No details about the hoarder or the cats' origin are provided yet.
Nearly 200 cats filled the home at upper left, off Hiller Road in West Bloomfield.
(Photo: Google Earth)
It's the suburban county's largest case of this kind and "the worst . . . I have seen in my entire career," says Bob Gatt, manager of the Oakland County Animal Shelter & Pet Adoption Center in Pontiac. "These cats were living in deplorable conditions. They were not provided with the adequate care necessary to maintain good health."
We can't imagine the stench encountered by officers and Michigan Humane Society investigators called in to help. According to the media handout:
Many of the cats that were removed from the house were suffering from a variety of health issues, including upper respiratory infections, fleas, skin infections, ear mites and malnutrition. A number of female cats have also given birth since arriving at the shelter. . . .
Animal control officers set additional traps [Monday] in case there are any other cats hiding in the home.
After treatment, an undetermined number of the rescued animals will be available for adoption. Check the shelter's site or call (248) 858-1070 for information.
It's open from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at 1200 N. Telegraph Rd., Building 42E, in Pontiac.
178 cats in West Bloomfield Twp home, many sick, malnourished, diseased; 60 have had to be killed. Oakland Cnty Prosecutor says animal abuse and neglect charges may be filed. The homeowner-couple apparently does’t live at the house on Elsie St off Greer near Hiller. @WWJ950 pic.twitter.com/Fs4J8BcrqI
— Mike Campbell (@reportermikec) May 21, 2019
