TOKYO: Approximately 100 deceased cats were found in the filthy residence of a woman in southwestern Japan, who was affiliated with an animal welfare organization, a local official reported on Wednesday (Jun 4).
The organization, Animal Assist Senju, expressed its regret on social media, sharing images of the cluttered home which they described as “filled with waste and odors.”
The house was owned by one of its employees, who the organization claimed acted independently by taking in numerous cats without their knowledge.
One cat was discovered in such a poor state that it was described as “unrecognizable,” with its skin partially removed and its paws matted with waste, the group noted in an Instagram post over the weekend.
Kumamoto City’s animal protection center informed AFP on Wednesday that the initial count of dead cats was estimated to be “around 100.”
However, reports in the media suggest that the actual number might be even higher.
Animal Assist Senju, located in the Kumamoto area, is dedicated to rescuing cats and dogs from shelters and finding them new homes.
“Every member of our organization is devastated by what has transpired,” they stated in another Instagram message.
“We can only fathom the immense suffering the cats endured before their passing.”
The woman has been prohibited from taking in any more cats, according to the organization.
City authorities and animal rights activists conducted two inspections of the home after being alerted about a dead cat last week, which led to a comprehensive search and rescue operation.
It remains unclear whether any legal measures have been taken against the woman.
So far, twelve live cats have been rescued from the property, reported Tsutomu Takimoto, an official with the city’s animal protection agency.
