Criminal Charges Possible Against Cat Hoarder

Ingham County animal control officials are trying to adopt as many healthy pets as possible to make room for surviving cats removed from a residence last week. (Photo via Facebook)

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A Michigan woman whose house was overrun with cats could face criminal charges.

Authorities Lansing Township removed 134 cats – 35 of them dead – from the residence of Amanda Lenore Price, 22, last week. Many of surviving cats were in such poor health after living in their own urine and feces for an unknown period of time that about 60 of them have been euthanized, the Lansing State Journal reports.

Ingham County Animal Control Director Andy Seltz said he’s pushing for criminal charges against Price, who already faces animal abandonment and cruelty charges in connection with a case last August. At the time, she was released from custody on a personal bond with the condition that she not own pets of any kind.

“This is something you can’t turn a blind eye to,” Seltz said of his recommendation that Price be criminally charged.

It took a two-person crew seven hours to remove the cats from the residence. Crews wore oxygen masks and went through seven oxygen tanks during the ordeal. The residence was pungent with the smell of ammonia released from the breakdown of the cats’ urine.

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Seltz described the scene as one in which “multiple animals that didn’t have a chance to leave.”

“It’s depressing,” he said. “It’s an emotional roller coaster.”

The 30 cats remaining cats are being boarded and are receiving veterinary care at the Ingham County Animal shelter at about cost of about $10,000 to Lansing Township and Ingham County. Seltz said that while he’s hopeful some of them will be available for adoption later this week, it’s a “day-to-day” for several cats, whose health complications include ear mites, herpes, skin infections, respiratory ailments and eye deformities.

The agency is encouraging adoptions of pets not related to the Lansing Township to free up space at the shelter, which is near capacity. Donations of cash or “anything cat-related” are also encouraged and may be made in person at 600 Curtis St. in Mason, where the cats are being boarded, or online. For more information, call (517) 676-8370.