VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2

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It was a call like any other. The residents of several duplexes have been evicted, as the owner has sold his property, and they need to find homes for their pets. Except in this case, it was 25 cats all in one small, one-bedroom duplex. I was stunned to hear this, but was determined to do whatever I could to help.

I made an appointment to evaluate the cats in an effort to rescue as many as the group could support. With carriers in hand, I made my way to the North Sacramento address. As I walked to the door, the smell of ammonia overwhelmed me. I didn't know what to expect when I walked in. And there they were -- cats everywhere I looked. Every sitting area, table, and window sill had a cat on it. Sadly, I knew I couldn't help them all.

I stayed a few minutes to allow the cats to get used to me, and began placing the friendliest ones into carriers. A single seven-week-old baby and mother were the first chosen. A variety of white and calico cats followed, for a total of six cats and kittens rescued. I told the resident that I would request help from other rescue groups. After a week, with the eviction day getting closer, none of the groups had responded.

With two days left until the eviction, I contacted the S.P.C.A. and the County Animal Shelter. The S.P.C.A. was full but the county said they would accept the cats for a $75 fee. We decided it was a small price to pay to give these cats a chance for a new life. On that Saturday morning, 19 cats were collected in carriers and cages and delivered to the County shelter where they hoped to get adopted into new homes.

Of the cats we rescued, all had severe cases of fleas and ear mites. None of them were spayed or neutered and one was actually pregnant. Two had heart murmurs and one had a genetic defect that left her future life expectancy unclear.  It looked as if their inbreeding had taken its toll.

I realize that people are trying to do the right thing by housing animals that would otherwise have no home. But situations such as this one are not solely the individual's problem. It is a community issue, as in this case many of these cats were left by prior residents who had already moved. The local neighbors were threatening to shoot any strays found outside, thus forcing them into such a small confine.

Regardless of the best intentions, the treatment described above is inhumane to the cats. This resident clearly loved her cats and was distraught as to what to do with them. But is it loving to confine that many cats to a such a small space, allowing fighting and inbreeding to take place? Of course not. This is where we hope to help. With financial assistance and education, we can do for the cats what they are unable to ask for themselves.