Dozens of Cats Found in Brooklyn House

Some neighbors were relieved when the ASPCA arrived in their Carnarsie neighborhood at the home of David and Laraine Spivak. The couple had taken in between 23-31 cats, and the smell of cat feces had become so unbearable that
neighbors called 311 to complain.

Apparently the Spivaks slept in their cars while the cats lived in their E. 99th Street home. A neighbor told WCBS 2, "Every morning we see them. They take a bottle of water and open the car door and wash themselves. It's ridiculous." David Spivak, though, denied he was sleeping in his car and he yelled at WABC 7, "You know what's going to happen to the cats. The ones that are small and cute are going to be adopted, and the older ones are going to get the needle. You know that."

The Spivaks had initially taken in a few cats from a friend who had Alzheimer's, but then the situation spiraled out of control. Many of the cats were found with fleas and Animal Care and Control said that some might need to be put down. Still, ASPCA Special Agent Joseph Pentangelo said, "None of the cats were victims of neglect or cruelty. They just had a lot of cats."

The ASPCA removed most of the cats, but the Spivaks kept six. Last month, at least a hundred cats, dead and alive, were found in a multi-million dollar Saddle River, NJ home. The owners had claimed bankruptcy and were living in a motel when a DHL worker noticed a smell coming from the house. The cats, as well as dogs, had taken to eating things like sheet rock and were wallowing in inches of feces. Workers are still finding cats today.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in Arts & Entertainment on September 26, 2007 5:49 PM

Comments [rss]

guest

nothing wrong with cat people.

guest

Meow.

guest

#s 3 and 6 have obviously never seen a dog dressed in a sweater, or riding in a stroller.

guest

Will this couple get the Vick treatment? I'm not saying that this was a part of some huge cat fighting ring or anything, but cruelty is cruelty. and what about the couple from Saddle River NJ. The animals were walking around in as much as 3 inches of feces and they were charged with 20 counts criminal disorderly persons WTF!!!!

CR

The figure 23-31 cats is not accurate enough. Until I know EXACTLY how many I refuse to be morally outragged. What - you can't exactly how many there are - you have to give an estimate?

MarygraceNYC

It is sad when someone starts out with good intentions and ends up like that. There should be a hot line or some no kill agency that they can reach out too. Their hearts were in the right place, but their heads were in the clouds.

Putting some of them down is society’s fault. Spay and neuter your animals and this problem will lessen. We have the technology, why not use it?!!

guest

When I saw the headline, I was hoping that Gothamist had the sense of humor to use an image of the crazy cat lady from the Simpson. Oh well, maybe next time Gothamist...

guest

cat people .... really bustin apart those sterotypes. wierdos.

Spirit of 76

"What is it with cat people???"

What makes you think dog people are different? The only reason you'd never see a story like this about dogs is that dogs wouldn't take to being kept in large numbers in one residence, and they also need to be walked outside.