NJSPCA Finds 93 Cats In Extremely Squalid NJ Home

It turns out that the N.J. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals found 93 cats (previously, it was thought there were almost 80) living in disgusting conditions in a home in the posh suburb of Chester Township, NJ. The Daily Record reports, "Police found the cats covered in feces in rooms throughout the spacious home at 22 Farm Road. Pictures provided by the SPCA depict floors, couches and tables littered with waste, while microwave and conventional ovens were crammed with garbage." Some of the NJSPCA photographs are above; the NJSPCA site has more, including a disturbing one of a bathtub filled with cat poop.

SPCA spokesman Matt Stanton told the Star-Ledger, "Our people"—who entered with a search warrant— "had to fill their nostrils with Vick's VapoRub and wear masks. They could only go in for five minutes at a time and had to come out to get fresh air again." The Star-Ledger adds, "The 12-room house was filled with feline urine and fecal matter, and at least half of the cats were feral and breeding." However, Stanton said the cats seemed well-fed. The NJSPCA took 22 cats for observation and hope to be able to pick up the rest; SPCA Lt. Rick Yokum explained, "The state's shelters are already overloaded, and if we took the rest of those cats now, they would likely end up being euthanized and that's not what we are about."

The home's owner Wanda Oughton could face up to 186 charges: 93 civil charges and 93 criminal charges (1 of each for each cat). Each criminal charge could mean up to a $1,000 fine and six months in jail. Oughton, who lives in the home with her 20-year-old daughter, refused to leave the house or to answer the many reporters' questions. And apparently the smell from the house was apparent to reporters outside. Oughton is due in court next month, and the SPCA will ask that she undergo a mental evaluation.

It's unclear whether the township can condemn the house. See this video from WCBS 2, which shows some of the rescued cats (and apparently news helicopters were there).

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By Jen Chung in News on March 28, 2009 6:25 PM

Comments [rss]

Carpet Remnants

I have not much time, but I've got many useful things here, love it!

rdsizzle

Typical Jersey....

pixie52

Maybe this is some kind of publicity stunt for the upcoming "Grey Gardens" movie on HBO...

pixie52

Maybe this is some kind of publicity stunt for the upcoming "Grey Gardens" movie on HBO...

peanut100

interesting to see the some remnants of their probably once idyllic suburban lifestyle; the dining room table and chairs in particular, along with the red striped wallpaper...i wonder what went wrong with this family? this whole situation is obviously very sad.

Spirit of 76

The authorities already said they don't want to send any of them to jail. They want to help, but in this country, they have to go through the entire process, which includes legal action. They can't just grab the people and commit them without due process.

Clarice City

i can haz rescue?

longacre

In yer manshun, poopin all over teh place.

dkim2015

we r doin qite wel akshully...

suepart

the Collyer Brothers of catshit. clean up and clean out.

rayburn

Isn't it obvious that the mother and/or daughter are mentally ill? Why are they being taken to court? I think that help from a psychiatric social worker would be more beneficial than a trip to jail. Just another example of vilifying people with mental illness.

JacqueMehoff

there's another lil guy peeking from next to the water jug.

I'd always thought it was cat pee that's the odor problem but I'm sure mountains of poo can get to that point.

NannyState

The 20 yr old daughter is interesting. I've heard all the stories about lonely widows and spinsters becoming pet collectors ( and chimp consorts ) but a young daughter participating in this twisted compulsive behavior? And obviously those two became inured to the odors and feces as they degenerated in their filthy world. One good thing about those rescued kitties is that they are probably well socialized with other cats and won't get into many fights which really make those vet bills soar...

felixthecat2

ok the place is dirty but the cats look well kept.

ribaldry

I dont get it. so whats the problem?

Amanda Harletsch

human hell

JacqueMehoff

I love that first picture with all the cats.

especially the lil guy peeking from the cat condo. now I see there's 2 guys.

Jen S

All with their lasers set to DESTROY.

sj

Unreal. Clearly some serious mental issues at play here. I've always wondered why people who start doing this just stash garbage in the house (like in the microwave as above). I mean surely that takes at least as much effort as putting it in a can and taking it out to the curb for pickup. But I guess I'm not gonna find a rational answer for that when clearly rationality is not at play here.

Looks like it was a nice house at one time. Now it will have to be demolished. Seems like such a waste.