TACOMA, Wash. — Tacoma Police discovered 101 cats inside a home off 29th Street Northeast during a welfare check on Tuesday.
Rescuers removed 100 surviving cats from the home and transferred them to the Humane Society, while one cat died.
Tacoma Police officers entered the home during the routine check and reported finding animals living in poor conditions.
“I have never been to a house with 101 cats in my 20-plus years of being here,” said Shelbie Boyd with Tacoma PD.
She noted that animal control officers raised immediate concerns about the health of the animals.
“Animal control did say these cats were in rough conditions and there were some concerns,” Boyd said. “So, the cats will see a vet and then charging decisions will be made.”
This rescue marks the third major feline extraction in the area in recent weeks. In early August, authorities rescued 61 cats from an abandoned boat near Owen Beach. Shortly after, 20 cats were found in an abandoned van.
The combined group of animals has overwhelmed local facilities, filling available cages and placing a heavy burden on shelter staff.
The Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County (HSTPC) shared a statement with KIRO 7 on the recent massive cat rescues in the area:
“This most recent intake brings the population of cats under the organization’s care to over 500: over 280 in-shelter plus an additional nearly 260 cats already in foster homes. Resorting to any option possible, the organization has set up temporary housing spaces with pop-up kennels to house hundreds of cats.
Many of the cats arrived with hair loss, scabbing, and the presence of flea dirt and live fleas. Quite a few have upper respiratory infections; some that were so severe they required immediate medical interventions due to their difficulty breathing.
There are four nursing moms and around a dozen nine neonatal kittens that are receiving round-the-clock care. The cats’ physical and medical conditions are being assessed by shelter staff. Cats with medical needs will receive appropriate care from the shelter’s veterinary team.
Each cat will receive a wellness exam, parasite treatment, vaccinations, and spay/neuter surgeries before becoming available for adoption.”
Officials highlighted underlying factors that contribute to animal hoarding situations.
Boyd noted that personal hardships often prevent owners from managing pet populations.
“It could be mental health. It could be finances and they can’t afford to get them fixed,” Boyd said.
Tacoma City Councilmember John Hines, who represents District 4, emphasized that expanding physical shelter space will not solve the broader crisis without addressing population control.
“We’re never going to build ourselves out of the situation. We’re never gonna provide enough shelter to handle all those animals if we can’t control the population through spaying them,” Hines said.
Hines is advocating for a regional initiative to expand local spay-and-neuter options, citing a shortage of accessible clinics.
“There just aren’t enough vets that are out there doing this kind of low-cost and free spay-neuter, so it’s a lot; it’s just access,” Hines said. “And so not only is it an animal welfare issue, but it’s also a public safety and taxpayer resource issue.”
Tacoma Police are coordinating with the prosecutor’s office to determine whether criminal charges will be filed against the homeowner.
How to help, per the HSTPC
Sign Up to Foster: Due to the high in-shelter population, the most effective form of relief is through fostering. The organization will provide all necessary materials to care for foster pets including food, toys, blankets, litter/litter boxes, and medical care. We ask that fosters live within Pierce County or within 25 miles of the shelter.
Donate Supplies: The organization is seeking donations of the following supplies to continue to provide for the cats and other animals currently in its care, as well as those continuing to enter its care. The recent influx of cats has created an especially urgent need for the following items:
- Bath towels
- Hand towels
- Fleece blankets
- Paper towels
- Newspaper
Donations can be dropped off at the shelter located at 2608 Center St. In Tacoma during open hours, 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. daily.
The following specialty in-demand items can be purchased directly from the organization’s Amazon and Chewy wish lists and shipped directly to the shelter: