Plymouth Cat Hoarder: 48 Animals Removed From Home

PLYMOUTH, MI — A total of 48 cats have recently been rescued from an elderly Plymouth man’s trailer by the Humane Society of Huron Valley. The cats were living in horrible conditions that included remains of dead animals saved in plastic containers, and a hot tub was filled with feces, the organization said in a news release.

The Ann Arbor-based humane society said the situation had been going on for years. The elderly man has been relocated and his trailer demolished. Many of the cats were very sick and have since received medical attention and are now on the road to recovery.

Plymouth is outside of Huron Valley’s jurisdiction. Although dozens of complaints were made, no action was taken until recently when area officials and the new property management team asked HSHV to rescue the cats.

“It is regrettable that this situation went on for so long. The conditions that go along with animal hoarding violate state animal cruelty laws and cause immense suffering for the animals. It also indicates that a person with serious mental health issues is not getting the help they need. Animal hoarding should always be taken seriously and unfortunately requires criminal prosecution to ensure that necessary treatment and monitoring is provided. Sadly, all went without help for a very long time,” said HSHV President and CEO Tanya Hilgendorf.

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Now, the humane society is asking for the public’s help in adopting out as many of the cats as possible. “These cats are real survivors and have withstood horrid conditions I doubt many of us could,” says Michele Baxter, HSHV’s Cruelty & Rescue Manager. “We hope the public will come forward to adopt them and give them the loving care they deserve.”

Lynx Point Siamese mixes, grey tabbies, brown tabbies and more are available for adoption at HSHV. All of them have been spayed or neutered, microchipped and vaccinated, and provided with much-needed medical treatment. While some could be house cats, the majority of the rescued cats are not equipped for indoor life. These “barn cats” are free to qualified adopters.

“Adopting a barn cat can be a mutually beneficial relationship,” says Jessica Vankoningsveld, feline behavior specialist at HSHV. “You’re saving the life of a sterilized cat, while they help scare off pesky rodents. They can help protect the perimeter of your home, or the area where you keep horse or chicken feed—we’ve even heard people report that barn cats are what keep their town mice-free.”

The humane society requires that barn cat adopters provide a safe, permanent shelter with an area of weather-proof covering, a continuous supply of fresh food and water, acclimation time to the area, and veterinary care when required. To apply to adopt a free barn cat, please go to www.hshv.org/barncatapplication. HSHV will contact interested parties within two business days. HSHV is open for adoptions seven days a week.

Photos courtesy of the Humane Society of Huron Valley