At an abandoned property in Sibley County, 71 cats were living without water and sleeping on top of rotting furniture and trash. It’s unknown how long they were there but after the Animal Humane Society got a call from a concerned neighbor, they responded to the scene.
They found dangerously high ammonia levels inside the abandoned home, requiring the response team to wear full-face respirators. The cats, dangerously skinny and of varying ages, were ushered into carriers. Many are suffering from respiratory infections and open wounds.
Since the cats were rescued Tuesday, the Animal Humane Society has been helping them settle in before medical evaluations. Dr. Sara Lewis, the vice president of veterinary medicine, said the cats are friendlier than she assumed given their circumstances, but they’re still a bit on the shy side.
Lewis also noted that the increased heat in Minnesota lately did not help.
“This becomes a life-threatening environment for them to be in, and many can pass away in even just a short period of time from lack of either air conditioning, the temperatures and not having food or clean water,” she said.
While the property was not occupied, Lewis said that from previous interventions, the Animal Humane Society knows how overwhelming things can be when animals are breeding quickly. One mother cat can have up to eight or 10 kittens at a time.
If the cats are not neutered or spayed, situations get out of control quickly — which is likely what happened in Sibley County.
Next steps for the cats include getting them spayed and neutered and having behavioral evaluations. If they have severe medical issues, they will also be treated. Lewis said the first round of cats could become adoptable next week, but it depends on their health.
You can find the cats up for adoption after they complete their medical evaluations by following this link. The adoption page is updated every 30 minutes. The Animal Humane Society will also post updates on Facebook and Instagram about their status.