SPCA rescues 64 cats from Hamilton home
Adults and kittens were found with eye infections, respiratory problems and lack of nourishment, shelter says
Feline evacuees of a Hamilton home where 64 were found languishing are now up for adoption.
Some of the cats aren’t ready to leave the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA, but 20 are healthy enough to start new lives.
“We need really dedicated people that will spend the time with these cats and it will pay back in full,” Karen Reichheld, manager of animal care and adoptions, said Monday.
The SPCA has released few details of its ongoing investigation, including the location of the home, its condition and who kept the cats.
“Really, what we’re able to say at this point is hoarding is a serious problem in Hamilton,” Reichheld said.
Two weeks ago, the SPCA found the cats suffering from a host of hardships, including eye infections, respiratory problems, hunger and thirst.
“In hoarding situations, people end up having more cats than they’re able to care for,” Reichheld said. “Oftentimes, it’s people with good intentions.”
After receiving the call, staff had to return more than once to remove all of the cats from the home, a process that started on Oct. 17.
Some members of the clowder — what groups of cats are called — didn’t put up a fuss about leaving, Reichheld noted.
But others were skittish and required more coaxing or searching. “In hoarding situations, there’s a lot of stuff to hide the cats.”
In this case, mature cats and kittens with serious eye infections and dental problems will spend more time at the Dartnall Road shelter.
Those ready to go have been treated for mites, vaccinated, and spayed or neutered.
Staff have named one favourite Rocky, an “old-timer” of average size, Reichheld said. “He’s one of the sweetest ones.”
Last year, 98 cats were removed from a squalid home in Beamsville where more than 100 were found dead on the property.
Whether charges are laid in the Hamilton case will depend on the investigation, which is expected to wrap up next week, CEO Marion Emo said.
In some cases, people may not realize their behaviour is hurting animals, while in others, the harm is intentional, Emo said.
In both scenarios, the animals are suffering and need protection, she said. “The difficulty is how do we work with the person?”
Sometimes charges can lead to orders that restrict the number of animals a person can have or ban ownership outright, Emo noted. These orders can be accompanied with counselling for emotional needs.
The Hamilton/Burlington SPCA includes “animal hoarding” under a glossary of animal cruelty terms on its website, describing it as an “obsessive/ compulsive disorder.”
In such cases, the hoarder “fails to provide for the animals’ most basic physical and social needs” and is “usually in extreme denial about the abysmal living conditions of their animals and dwelling.”
Emo emphasized that the number of animals itself isn’t the bar for hoarding, but rather a person’s ability to care for them.
“We may all know people who have more than five cats, but those cats may be fabulously cared for.”
SPCA officers are trained to recognize the signs of trouble: people who don’t how many animals they have; a home in rough shape; dried feces and urine; emaciated, lethargic and flearidden pets.
“And the individual may be neglecting themselves,” Emo added.
Medical experts recognize extreme hoarding as a symptom of Diogenes syndrome, a psychological disorder that can affect all ages, but is more common in older adults.
In a Spectator column, Dr. Brian Misiaszek, a local geriatrician, noted Diogenes syndrome can affect about five out of every 10,000 adults over the age of 65.
“That translates to 250 seniors in Hamilton. This is a costly concern and can become a public health issue,” he wrote in 2011.
The city’s public health and bylaw departments refer hoarding calls to community support agencies.
One is IntAc (Intensive Case Management Access Co-ordination), which offers mental health case management services.
Another is Hamilton Catholic Family Services, which runs a program called Gatekeepers that helps those struggling with extreme hoarding.
If there are bylaw violations in such cases, the city aims for voluntary compliance, asking family members to help out when possible.
Meanwhile, the Hamilton/ Burlington SPCA urges pet owners to reach out for help when they need it. People who are concerned about at-risk pets can call 905-574-7722, ext. 401.