101 Cats Seized From Tacoma Home Now In Our Care
The Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County (Tacoma Humane) received 101 cats and kittens from Tacoma Animal Control following a seizure out of a local home.
This large number of cats comes just a few weeks after we received 61 cats rescued from a boat off Owen Beach, and another 20 cats from a vehicle in Tacoma.
This most recent intake brings the population of cats under our care to over 500: over 280 in-shelter plus an additional nearly 260 cats already in foster homes.
We have set up temporary housing spaces with pop-up kennels to house hundreds of cats.
Many of the cats arrived with hair loss, scabbing, and the presence of flea dirt and live fleas. Quite a few have upper respiratory infections; some that were so severe they required immediate medical interventions due to their difficulty breathing. There are 4 nursing moms and around a dozen 9 neonatal kittens that are receiving round-the-clock care.
The cats’ physical and medical conditions are being assessed by shelter staff. Cats with medical needs will receive appropriate care from the shelter’s veterinary team. Each cat will receive a wellness exam, parasite treatment, vaccinations, and spay/neuter surgeries before becoming available for adoption.
WAYS TO HELP
Sign Up to Foster: Due to the high in-shelter population, the most effective form of relief is through fostering. The organization will provide all necessary materials to care for foster pets including food, toys, blankets, litter/litter boxes, and medical care. We ask that fosters live within Pierce County or within 25 miles of the shelter.
Donate Supplies: We are seeking donations of the following supplies to continue to provide for the cats and other animals currently in its care, as well as those continuing to enter its care. The recent influx of cats has created an especially urgent need for the following items:
- Bath towels
- Hand towels
- Fleece blankets
- Paper towels
- Newspaper
Donations can be dropped off at the shelter located at 2608 Center St. in Tacoma during open hours, 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. daily.
The following specialty in-demand items can be purchased directly from our Amazon and/or Chewy wish lists and shipped directly to the shelter:
Financial donations allow us to stock up on the exact supplies we need, when we need them. Donate now.
PREVENTION AND INTERVANTION
Situations involving large numbers of cats can escalate quickly. Unaltered cats can reproduce rapidly, and what begins as an effort to help can become unmanageable when their number exceeds what one person can reasonably care for. The City of Tacoma’s household pet limit is six animals.
Reaching out for support early can prevent these situations from becoming overwhelming and help protect the well-being of the animals and people involved.
As the community’s pet resource hub, Tacoma Humane offers early intervention support including Spay/Neuter vouchers to participating veterinary clinics and a Pet Food & Supply Pantry for income-qualifying community members.
