In a suite at a Motel 6 in Farmington Hills, a woman was found living with an astonishing 53 cats, officials reported. Oakland County Animal Control was called to the scene, where they found the felines and their caregiver, a 51-year-old woman, in a room that had been reasonably maintained with multiple litter boxes. Despite the unusual setup, the woman had taken good care of the cats, which were in good health, as reported by ClickOnDetroit.
The incident, which occurred on June 20, drew attention not only for the sheer number of cats but also because the woman knew each of them by name. According to CBS News Detroit, after animal control officers evaluated the health of all the cats, they concluded that the conditions did not merit pressing charges. The woman was asked to surrender the animals and agreed to part with 50, choosing to keep three that she was particularly attached to.
As a result, 50 of the cats are now in the care of the Oakland County Animal Shelter, where they will be spayed or neutered and made available for adoption. Bob Gatt, manager of Oakland County's Animal Control Division, noted, in a statement obtained by Detroit Free Press, "All 53 cats were in good shape. The hotel room was in good shape. There were litter boxes everywhere." He added that the situation, while not one of abuse or neglect, represented how quickly well-intentioned animal caretaking can become overwhelming.
The shelter is now encouraging local residents to adopt rather than shop for new pets. Gatt urged those considering a new furry family member to visit the Oakland County Animal Shelter and Pet Adoption Center located at 1200 North Telegraph Building 42 E in Pontiac. With the 50 cats recuperating and soon to be ready for new homes, Gatt said, "They are all beautiful cats and in good health, so people can come down and check them out," as noted by CBS News Detroit.
