On August 4, 2012, Mid-Michigan Cat Rescue (MMCR) confiscated 75 cats from a home in Grosse Pointe Woods, MI. 39 cats were found in the house and 36 cats were shut in a non-ventilated garage.
The outside temperature reached 90 degrees and the temperature inside the garage reached approximately 110 degrees. In looking at the outside of the garage, two legs and a tail were visible at the top of the garage door. A cat had been able to wedge itself there in order to cool off part of its body and gasp for fresh air. In looking at this with the owner, she stated, "That is how I got caught."
Upon entering the two-car garage, the stench was overwhelming. Cats were overhead in the rafters and tucked behind walls and debris. Further inspection revealed a kitten who was just hours old in the middle of the floor, covered in filth and barely moving. A second kitten of the same age was found; this one had deep puncture wounds from an attack from an adult cat. None of the cats had been altered. All of the cats were wild and completely untouchable. When the garage was cleaned out later that day, another litter of three-month old kittens were found.
The house itself had feces, urine, litter, and old food throughout it. It was filled with household debris and clutter making it difficult to move around. The cats in the house were also unaltered and wild. Upon inspection, a litter of 4-week-old kittens was found under a household mattress; the owner was not aware of their existence.
Due to the dangerous nature of the situation, every cat had to be captured with a catch pole. This was a very stressful, laborious, and dangerous process for the volunteers of Mid-Michigan Cat Rescue. It was also highly stressful for the cats. The cats were running around the stifling garage, climbing the walls and clinging onto the rafters. As the temperature reached unbearable levels in the garage, cats were panting and were close to immediate collapse. Two cats died after capture as a result of the culmination of years of captivity in awful conditions, heat exhaustion, and the stress of the capture.
The physical condition of the cats was appalling. The cats were infested with fleas; this produced severe anemia as evidenced by white gums. Many of the cats had open wounds on their faces and necks due to the constant scratching. The cats' internal parasite infestation was so severe that they were emaciated. Several cats had large bald patches due to allergic reactions and it was discovered that all of the female cats had already had multiple litters and were pregnant yet again. Due to the secluded environment, these cats were subject to severe inbreeding that resulted in many physical and mental issues.
Mid-Michigan Cat Rescue is a non-profit, no-kill organization that will take care of many of these cats for the rest of their lives. Most of them will be integrated into their feral cat colony on a 70-acre farm, where they will have fresh air and be able to feel the grass under their paws - two things that weren't available to them in them former home. The kittens and a few of the semi-feral cats can be socialized and will be put up for adoption. MMCR took on this hoarding case in the middle of kitten season when they were already at maximum capacity at all foster homes. Thanks to community assistance, MMCR will be able to spay/neuter, vaccinate, de-worm, and have full medical visits done for every cat. To learn more about the Mid-Michigan Cat Rescue, please go to
mmcr.petfinder.com. If you know of a hoarding situation, please contact your local authorities immediately. Your timing could save the lives of many animals that are in desperate need of help.
To contribute to MMCR's rescue efforts, please click on the PayPal button below or send a personal check or money order to:
Mid-Michigan Cat Rescue
1117 Tulip Street
Grand Ledge, MI 48837
The kitties and I thank you for your help!
Sarah Vicary
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