A welfare check for someone lying outside a Tacoma, Washington home ended with a very different kind of head count.
Tacoma police responded to the 6100 block of 29th Street Northeast at about 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 1. The person outside was okay, but when officers went to the door, they could see dozens of cats and smell ammonia coming from inside.
That was already a problem. Tacoma allows no more than six dogs, six cats, or a combination totaling six animals at a household.
The resident initially surrendered 16 cats to animal control. By the time the property had been searched under a warrant, another 85 had been removed.
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In all, Tacoma Police and animal control removed 101 cats from the property.
The animals were transferred into the care of the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County, where staff began evaluating just how much care they would need.
Many arrived with hair loss, scabs, flea dirt, and live fleas. The shelter said quite a few were suffering from upper respiratory infections, while some had such severe breathing problems that they needed immediate medical intervention.
Four mother cats were nursing, and about nine neonatal kittens required round-the-clock care.
Each cat will receive a wellness exam, parasite treatment, vaccinations, and spay or neuter surgery before becoming available for adoption.
Rescue at Capacity
Finding space for another 101 cats was a problem in itself.
The Humane Society was already caring for hundreds of them after two other large rescues in recent weeks. Sixty-one cats had arrived after being rescued from a boat off Owen Beach, followed by another 20 recovered from a vehicle in Tacoma.
The latest intake pushed the number of cats in the organization’s care above 500, including more than 280 at the shelter and nearly 260 already living in foster homes.
Staff have resorted to temporary housing and pop-up kennels to accommodate the surge.
Large groups of cats can grow quickly when animals have not been sterilized, the Humane Society noted. Tacoma also limits households to six dogs or cats in total and, absent proof of prior ownership, generally permits only one of those animals to remain unaltered.
Making Some Room
The Humane Society is now looking for foster homes to relieve pressure on the shelter.
Fosters must live in Pierce County or within 25 miles of the shelter. The organization provides food, litter and litter boxes, toys, blankets and medical care for the animals placed with them.
The shelter is also seeking towels, fleece blankets, newspapers and paper towels. Additional foster and donation information is available through the Humane Society’s website.