Still More Cats To Be Rescued In UWS Hoarding Case

By 1010 WINS' Susan Richard

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) --  It turns out, the recent rescue involving more than 20 cats left abandoned in an Upper West Side apartment is not yet over.

According to Animal General, the local veterinary hospital that spearheaded the rescue effort, they've taken in more cats since the initial March 6 operation bringing the total number to 29 as of March 10.  They also said there are at least six more cats still on the property and that two are believed to be pregnant.

As first reported by CBS 2, the cats were found living in filthy conditions and were roaming the building's backyard after their owner, an animal hoarder, lost his apartment to eviction.

One cat was nursing a litter of four kittens with a fifth found dead in the backyard, apparently from exposure to the cold. The mother cat and babies were taken in by Jillian Nelson, a professional photographer who is also an animal rescuer, and happens to be a friend of mine.

The story doesn't end there. Jillian returned to the scene to assist in the rescue effort and when she got home she saw that the mother cat had given birth to two kittens in her bathroom.  Since the four she was nursing already had their eyes open, Animal General said it's likely she was nursing another cat's litter when she had her own.   Good thing she was in Jill's apartment or Mama and the whole little herd might not have survived the night in the cold.

1010WINS' Susan Richard reports:

The kitty family has since been transferred to the care of Anjellicle Cats, a private no-kill rescue group that had previously taken in a number of the adult cats from this rescue. When they're old enough, the kittens and the mother will be put up for adoption.

WEB EXTRA: Learn more about Anjellicle Cats

In the meantime, Animal General told 1010 WINS they're still in need of both adopters and foster homes in order to make room for the cats that have yet to be caught.

They're also accepting financial support to cover the cost of vetting nearly three dozen animals.  You can find that link on their Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/AnimalGeneral.

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