Pets
23 Cats Rescued In 'Devastating Hoarding Situation': Westchester SPCA
The rescuers are urgently seeking donations to help treat the sick cats who were abandoned for weeks after their owner was evicted.
WHITE PLAINS, NY — Rescuers are asking for help taking care of the surviving cats saved from a Westchester County home.
The SPCA of Westchester says that its rescue team recently saved 23 sick cats from a "devastating hoarding situation" in Westchester.
The SPCA's Humane Law Enforcement Unit recently found out that the cats' owner was evicted from the home, leaving behind starving cats and kittens who had little to no food or water in weeks.
Find out what's happening in Pleasantville-Briarcliff Manorfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
SEE ALSO: 40 Cats Rescued From 'Horrific' Hoarder House By Westchester SPCA
"While we've seen a lot of upsetting cruelty cases over the years, our team has never encountered this many animals on the brink of starvation," SPCA Westchester CEO Shannon Laukhuf wrote in a letter to supporters.
Find out what's happening in Pleasantville-Briarcliff Manorfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Warning: The images below can be disturbing to readers.
One of the first cats found was so hungry and weak that she couldn't even lift herself out of the toilet. The SPCA thinks she must have been thirsty and climbed in only to find that the water had already dried up.
Another cat was found wedged between two walls next to his companion who had already died. The SPCA believes he fell and became stuck there for hours, possibly even days. Luckily, his cries for help alerted one of the animal caretakers at the scene who was able to secure him safely.
The SPCA Westchester is urgently seeking donations to help support the cats' 24-hour veterinary care, including intravenous antibiotics and fluids to keep them stable and alive.
"We can't do this alone and need your support to ensure that every one of these cats has a fighting chance," Laukhuf added. "The only home they've ever known was filled with urine and feces, causing widespread upper respiratory, ear and eye infections, among other ailments. Sadly, the cats were forced to eat anything they could in hopes of surviving including wood, paint chips and garbage. It breaks our hearts knowing that these cats have most likely never experienced affection nor had the opportunity to live a happy life."
You can help the SPCA Westchester help these animals by donating here.
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