Animal control officers are now caring for 60 cats that came from a home on U.S. 67, just north of Monmouth.
Warren County Animal Control Officer John Livingston says they received a request to take 20 cats from a man and his mother, who were being evicted from their home.
Livingston says when they arrived at the house on Thursday Sept. 12, 2013, they found dozens more cats and kittens and "feces and urine all over the place."
He says they are some of "the worst conditions" he's ever seen.
Livingston says they also found several frozen cat carcasses in the freezer, which leads him to believe the owners couldn't part with their pets, ever after they had died.
The cats were taken to the Warren County Animal Shelter where they are being cared for. The surviving animals are said to be in good shape and have been fed. There are even more cats in the basement of home and officers will be going back to gather up the rest.
Meanwhile, the small shelter is overwhelmed with all the animals and is reaching out to other rescue groups for help. It is asking for monetary donations as well as supplies, like food, kitty litter and boxes. A local pet food plant has already donated some food and Livingston says volunteers have come from another shelter to help care for the cats. He says the Quad City Animal Welfare Center in Milan also plans to take some kittens and their mothers for evaluation.
Livingston says charges are possible against the owners, although they don't know where they are living right now.
Earlier this week, 52 cats were removed from a home in Clinton, Iowa. Officers have since returned to the home and found 21 more for a total of 73. Many of the cats are suffering from ear mites and fleas and the Clinton County Humane Society is asking for donations of cotton swabs, cotton balls, latex gloves and flea treatments. The homeowner in the Clinton case was cited for violating the maximum number of animals to be cared for.
(Peoria Journal Star - Sept 13, 2013)
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