TEWKSBURY, Mass. — A total of 91 cats were found inside a home in Tewksbury on Tuesday, with a vast majority of them in “rough” condition, according to the MSPCA.
Most of these cats suffer from rampant eye, ear, upper respiratory infections and advanced dental disease, symptoms commonly found in animals kept in hoarding conditions. Some of the cats are partially or totally blind.
“This is a case where one of the owners had died and the surviving spouse just could not take care of all these cats, especially as their health issues got more serious, and [he] was desperate for help,” the MSPCA said in a statement. The previous owner of the animals has not been identified at this time. It is also unclear if any criminal charges will be filed.
“Moreover, the majority [of the cats] have experienced severe, irreversible eye changes as a result of untreated infections—including eyelids adhered to corneas and old ulcers, and some are missing at least one eye,” said Meaghan O’Leary, director of operations for the MSPCA at Nevins Farm.
32 of the cats are being held at the MSPCA at Nevins Farm in Methuen while 59 others have been sent to Tewksbury Animal Control and other humane groups.
The cats’ medical care needs are expected to reach $10,000 and Nevins Farm officials hope donors may step forward to help offset the cost of this care. Anyone wishing to donate can do so via www.mspca.org/cats.
“We’re fortunate to be able to help in these situations, and our sole intention is to help the cats heal and then place them into loving homes,” O’Leary said.
Once the cats are made available, adopters will be able to apply at mspca.org/nevinsadopt.
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