The BC SPCA has taken 18 cats and two kittens into their care from a single home in Delta, B.C. The cats had been seized by animal safety officers after an animal neglect investigation was carried out by the BC SPCA.
“The cats were living in a home that had an overwhelming ammonia smell with piles of feces as high as five inches in some rooms,” says Eileen Drever, the BC SPCA’s senior officer safety and stakeholder relations. “The litter boxes were overflowing and the few pieces of furniture in the home were soaked in urine.” Drever provides it was apparent that the house owners of the cats had develop into overwhelmed with the quantity of labor required to look after them.
The cats had been dropped at a BC SPCA animal centre for evaluation and those who required veterinary care had been taken to a close-by clinic. “Thankfully by removing the cats from the environment we relieved a lot of their distress, but they all smelled strongly of urine,” says Drever. “Four of the cats required veterinary care. One of the cats has diabetes, one had a cyst on their tail that had to be removed and one of the cats had a fever but has already responded well to antibiotics. Another cat required tooth extractions.”
The two kittens are wholesome and dwelling with one of many BC SPCA’s volunteer fosters. They are nonetheless nursing from mother however are beginning to eat strong meals. “Given what they have been through the cats are very friendly,” provides Drever. “One of the cats has an adorable trait of ‘smiling’ when she meows.”
This is the second massive consumption of cats for the BC SPCA already within the first few months of 2024. It follows an consumption of 40 cats who had been surrendered within the Okanagan. “This has been a busy start to the year for us in terms of the number of cats that have come into our care,” says Drever. “It puts a lot of pressure on animal centre staff to find volunteer fosters for all of these cats, not to mention the costs of veterinary care, food and enrichment.”
It is just not recognized at the moment when the cats and kittens might be available for adoption. The BC SPCA won’t be recommending expenses.
