VOTE:Do you think penalties should be increased for pet hoarders?
A total of 101 cats and kittens were seized by police and animal control from a home in Tacoma.
Officers responded to a home in the 6100 block of 29th Street NE for a welfare check Tuesday afternoon, after people reported that an individual was lying down outside of the residence, police said.
VOTE: Do you think penalties should be increased for pet hoarders?
A resident told officers it was not a concern, but while there, officers noticed dozens of cats packed in the home.
Animal control then responded, and the owner willingly turned over 16 cats and said there were no others, according to police. After obtaining a warrant, animal control returned to the home on Wednesday and seized 85 more cats.
One of the cats was found dead. Animal control said the cats were in "rough condition," police added.
"There's clearly a problem with overpopulation of cats in the City of Tacoma," said Ofc. Shelbie Boyd, with Tacoma police.
The cats are now in the care of the Humane Society for Pierce County & Tacoma, or in foster homes, receiving treatment for fleas, upper respiratory infections, and other illnesses.
At least one cat gave birth to additional kittens while at the humane society.
As of now, the 16 cats that were willingly turned over have been marked available for adoption holds.
Animal control will seek charges against the cats' owner and is working on a case to be sent to the prosecutor's office, Boyd confirmed. No one has been arrested or taken into custody so far.
It comes just weeks after over 60 cats were recovered from an abandoned boat near Owen Beach in Tacoma. Authorities said rising costs, a lack of access, and a lack of education contribute to these overpopulation cases.
"I would hope as a community, we could band together and try and educate and help facilitate the spay and neuter of animals," Boyd continued, "and help people who have a heart for animals be able to care for them in a healthy way."
Per city law, Tacoma residents can have up to six cats per household.
