In August 2019 neighbours were alerted to a property in Großhanstedt, Hamburg, after they noticed a concerning number of cats running through the garden.
Rubbish had also started collecting, making the smell unbearable.
The authorities are called in
Concerned for the welfare of the 70-year-old woman who lived at the property with her 50-year-old daughter, the neighbours decided to alert the authorities.
The woman assured everyone they shared the space with five cats. But preparing for the worst, the fire brigade joined forces with an official veterinarian, shelter workers, a psychiatrist, a public order officer and members of the local health department.
What they found when they arrived on site shocked everyone to the core.
Over 100 cats in appalling conditions
Every inch of the house and garden was filled with rubbish, and there were cat faeces everywhere.
Bare wires hung from the ceiling. The property was unsafe and uninhabitable. In addition to piles of rubbish, the team also found over 100 cats and kittens, including a kitten who had sadly passed away.
Wearing protective clothing and masks, they were able to trap the cats, removing them one by one in carriers.
The owners fled the scene before they could be questioned. But thankfully, the cats all made it to safety, where they would be properly cared for by the rescue team.
