This story starts with more than 30 cats living on an abandoned boat, but fortunately it ends on a much happier note.
When Tacoma police responded to reports of an abandoned boat floating off Owen Beach, officers probably expected to spend their day dealing with a vessel.
Instead, they found more than 30 cats and kittens.
According to the Tacoma Police Department, Marine Services Unit officers boarded the boat and discovered dozens of feline occupants living aboard in unsafe conditions. What started as a call about an abandoned watercraft quickly turned into a large-scale rescue operation involving police officers, Animal Control personnel, and forensic technicians.
Thanks to the efforts of Tacoma police, Animal Control, and other responders, every cat and kitten was safely brought ashore and is now headed for a much better chapter than life aboard an abandoned boat.
One Boat, More Than 30 Cats
Tacoma police shared photos from the rescue, giving the public a look inside the vessel.
The images almost require a second look. At first glance, it appears there are a handful of cats aboard. Then another appears in the background. Then a few more. Before long, it becomes clear why officers estimated there were more than 30 feline occupants living on the boat.
While the discovery may sound like the setup to a quirky internet story, the conditions inside the vessel appeared far less amusing. Cats occupied nearly every available space, and police said many of the animals were frightened and malnourished when officers found them.
The unusual discovery quickly attracted attention online, with many readers wondering the same thing: how did more than 30 cats end up living on an abandoned boat in the first place?
Rescue Teams Worked to Remove Every Cat
According to Tacoma police, Marine Services officers immediately began coordinating with Animal Control and the department’s Forensics Unit after discovering the animals.
The rescue operation continued into the following day as crews worked to safely remove the cats and kittens from the vessel. Police praised the patience, compassion, and teamwork required to complete the effort.
Many of the animals were frightened, making the process more challenging than simply carrying them ashore. Officers said the rescue would continue for much of the day as teams carefully worked through the boat.
By the end of the operation, every cat and kitten had been safely removed from the vessel and transported to the Tacoma-Pierce County Humane Society.
The Cat Distribution System Goes Offshore
Authorities have not said exactly how more than 30 cats and kittens ended up living aboard the vessel, and the investigation remains ongoing.
That unanswered question has naturally sparked plenty of curiosity.
Cat owners often joke about the “cat distribution system,” the mysterious force that somehow results in people acquiring cats they never planned to own. In this case, however, the distribution system appears to have expanded into maritime operations.
Jokes aside, the rescue effort ensured every cat and kitten was safely removed from the vessel and given a chance at a better outcome.
For now, the abandoned boat’s most unusual chapter appears to be over. The cats are safe, the vessel is no longer occupied, and Tacoma police can add “rescue more than 30 cats from a boat” to the list of things they probably didn’t expect to do this week.