Rescue Group Declares 'Community Emergency' As It Seeks Homes for 50 Cats

About 50 cats, including several just days-old kittens, were rescued from a southwest Detroit home. (Photo via Detroit Animal Welfare/Facebook)

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Animal rescue groups in Michigan are looking for homes for dozens of kittens and cats rescued, many of which are ill and two of which are missing eyes, from a southwest Detroit home as the owner was being evicted.

The owner of the house on Rathbone Street called the nonprofit community group Detroiters Helping Each Other Wednesday and said he needed help finding homes for about 50 cats and kittens, according to a report on WWJ/CBS Detroit.

Once the volunteers arrived, the owner of the house refused to let them inside. The cats were brought out in crates, and all need veterinary treatment for severe eye infections, blindness, urinary tract infections and parasites. Some of the kittens were just days old.

Volunteers were expected back at the house Thursday to remove more cats. They don’t know how many are in the home because the homeowner refused to allow them inside.

In a Thursday post on its Facebook page, the Detroit Animal Welfare Group said foster homes are urgently needed for the cats because the group’s shelters aren’t large enough to accommodate the influx.

“We need community support in this emergency,” the group said on Facebook.

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The group wants to place the cats in new homes when they’re healthy, but that comes at a price. Pre-adoption veterinary care for a healthy cat costs about $100, and that amounts to a minimum of $5,000 in veterinary care for the rescued cats. The final bill will be higher because of their compromised health.

Financial donations, as well as donations of cat food, litter and other supplies, are also welcome. If you’d like to help, fill out a foster application at www.dawghous.com, or drop off donations and supplies at 78440 McKay Road, Bruce Township, or 16820 Savoie Livonia.