August 28, 2012

Scroll Down to Find the Most Current Information – Updated 9/25/12

August 28: CVHS and VT-CAN are working together to save over 70 cats and kittens (updated 8/31/12) from a hoarding situation just outside the Orange County line.  The owner is voluntarily parting with most of the cats and kittens, who are coming to CVHS for quarantine and treatment for a variety of medical and behavioral needs.

We have created a shelter within our shelter (in our meeting room) to help these sick and scared kitties.  We need your help–we can’t do this without you!  Please consider making a donation, or bringing by wet (canned) cat and kitten food, cloth towels, paper towels, and other items from our wish list to our Adoption Center.

We hope that many of the cats and kittens will become available for adoption in the next few weeks.  Others will need additional care, and some will be looking for barn homes if we are unable to socialize them. Click here to learn more about barn cats.

The photos show the arrival and medical treatment of the second batch of kitties trapped or gathered from the home.  We’ve had four separate groups arrive for care, and more are on their way almost every day!  We’re working hard to keep up with all of the new cats!

September 18: It has been a crazy several weeks here at CVHS while we have been working with VT-CAN to get these kitties healthy and ready for new homes.  As most of them are feral (wild), we have a lot of work to do!

• Some of the most feral have been spayed, neutered, and medicated, and returned to the property, where they are being fed and cared for now that there aren’t 73 cats on the property any more.
• We are still looking for barn homes for some of the semi-feral cats who are not responding to socialization.
• Although several of the kittens born to malnourished mothers died at or shortly after birth, and one kitten died while in care despite efforts to save it, none of the animals had to be euthanized.
• Over a dozen of the healthiest and friendliest have found new homes!
• Over a dozen remain at CVHS while they receive treatment for various medical needs.
• The rest are getting healthy and social in foster care until they are ready for their new homes!

September 25: The “emergency ward” has been successfully closed, but we expect to continue treating and rehabilitating some of the cats for months. Because of their poor nutritional status, these cats and kittens are currently fighting respiratory infections and coping with challenges to their digestive systems while their bodies adapt to being fed good food on a regular basis. They will become available for adoption as soon as they are healthy.

September 27: CLARIFICATION. For those who have read recent misinformation in the press: the state has not been involved in this case. These cats were relinquished voluntarily by the owner. CVHS stepped up to help this owner and greatly appreciates the cooperation of all parties involved.

One of the Rescued Kittens Enjoying a Soft Blanket at CVHS

We’re not done yet and we still need your support!

Please donate now to help CVHS help these and other neglected, homeless, abandoned, or unwanted animals.

We’ll have many of the cats from this case for weeks or even months as we address their various needs.  They will become available for adoption whenever they are ready.  You can see many of them now when you visit our Adoption Center, though few are actually ready for new homes at this point.

About Animal Hoarding

Cat hoarders are typically well-meaning individuals who take in stray and abandoned cats until the situation escalates beyond the hoarder’s skill or resources to manage. This happens quickly because the “rescued” male and female cats aren’t spayed/neutered and keep having kittens. This also explains the malnourished and dehydrated condition of animals seized in this and other hoarding cases. In this situation, the owner was feeding the cats. It was just that she was only feeding food enough for 15 or 20 and she ended up having more than 70.

Animal hoarding can be described as a psychological compulsion to collect animals. The psychology of hoarding prevents a hoarder from seeking or accepting help even when animals are dying. Although there are some men, hoarders are more often women. Some hoarders are dog collectors, but research indicates most have cats, who aren’t as likely to come to the notice of outside authorities.

Although the hoarder in this case understood the gravity of the situation in terms of the welfare of the animals, she was still emotionally attached to the cats. Consequently, a few of the feral (wild) cats who could not be socialized and adopted out were returned after spay/neuter. Feral cats are pretty self-sufficient, and their owner is able to provide food and care for the few we returned. And what’s different in the situation now is that the feral cats have been spayed or neutered and so won’t be able to procreate further. Also, because cats remain territorial, spayed or neutered animals will help to keep unaltered strays and ferals from moving into their territory.

It Takes a Village

Another thank you goes to Petsmart Charities who sent us an emergency relief grant for $5,500 to help with the costs of medical care for these cats!  We knew (hoped!) they would pull through to help in this horrible situation and they did! And of course, kudos to rescue partner VT-CAN! Spay & Neuter Clinic for trapping, transporting, and providing spay/neuter for all cats before bringing them to shelter at CVHS.