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178 cats removed from home in Oakland County's 'largest animal hoarding case'

Many of the cats rescued from the house had a variety of health issues.
Credit: akland County Animal Control and Pet Adoption Center

OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. — Animal control officers have removed 178 cats from a home in West Bloomfield Township in what is Oakland County's largest animal hoarding case. 

The Oakland County Animal Shelter & Pet Adoption Center said it will seek animal neglect and abuse charges against the homeowner. 

The cats were removed from the house from April 24 to May 17, and 60 of them were "humanely euthanized" because of severe illness or aggression, a news release said. 

Many of the cats rescued from the house had a variety of health issues including upper respiratory infections, fleas, skin infections, ear mites and malnutrition. 

“This is the worst animal hoarding case I have seen in my entire career,” Oakland County Animal Shelter & Pet Adoption Center Manager Bob Gatt said. “These cats were living in deplorable conditions. They were not provided with the adequate care necessary to maintain good health.” 

Credit: akland County Animal Control and Pet Adoption Center

An Oakland County Animal Control Officer went to the house on Elsie Drive on April 24 to perform a welfare check on cats believed to be abandoned inside. She looked inside the windows and saw about six cats living in unsanitary conditions with no food. 

After obtaining a search warrant Rachel Whitlock, the animal control officer, along with police entered the house and found at least 100 cats. 

Additional animal control officers were called in to help remove the cats from the house. By 2 a.m. on April 25, the Oakland County Animal Shelter & Pet Adoption Center had removed 63 cats from the home. 

Fifteen cats were removed later that day. 

The Detroit Free Press reports the chief of the Oakland County Animal Shelter was told by police that the floors of the house were so urine-soaked they were bowing. 

By April 26, the Oakland County Animal Shelter & Pet Adoption Center got in contact with the homeowner who then relinquished ownership of the cats. All of the remaining cats were provided food and water. 

Over the following weeks, 100 more cats were taken out of the home as space and resources became available at the animal shelter. Authorities believe there are no cats left that need to be removed. 

A number of the female cats gave birth after arriving at the shelter. 

"This case stretched our resources but it never stretched our resolve to work together to bring the case to a proper conclusion," said Oakland County Public Services Director Mark Newman.

The Oakland County Prosecutor's Office will determine what charges, if any, are warranted in this case. 

For more information about the cats that were rescued from the Elsie Drive home and when some may be available for adoption, contact OakGov.com/PetAdoption or call 248-858-1070. 

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