Dozens of cats living in filthy 'hoarding situation' at Milwaukee home

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Dozens of cats are living in one Milwaukee home covered in filth, trash, and animal feces. This, according to the Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Center (MADACC) and Department of Neighborhood Services (DNS).

MADACC Executive Director Karen Sparapani tells CBS 58, there are about 30 cats in the home without clean litterboxes, and there are areas with almost knee-deep piles of cat feces.

"We have dealt with other residences with feline hoarding situations where there were over 120 cats that did not have the level of waste inside the home that this one has," Sparapani said.

Sparapani says it is clear the cats have been living alone for a long time.

"No human could live in this house, there was no place for a human to exist in that house. The house is full of fleas, there's some areas where it's like almost knee deep of fecal material from cats," Sparapani explained.

According to MADACC, the owner of the home still accesses the property and continues to feed the cats.

"They have been feeding the cats which makes it impossible for us to trap them because cats aren't hungry enough to go into the trap," said Sparapani.

Sparapani says they are working to help with the hoarding situation at the home, successfully getting out about eight cats.

DNS says animal officials will have to go in to catch the remaining cats using nets but "waiting to hear how this case is going to proceed."

"Trapping them is far more humane and we would prefer that. I believe the owner will be able to contract for remediation so, that can affect our access and their access to the residence. Once the feeding has stopped – we can wrap up our part rather quickly," Sparapani said.

Even with the traumatic living conditions, Sparapani says the cats seem to be physically OK.

"They're not in bad shape I mean they're certainly well fed but it's just not natural for cats to live that life," said Sparapani.

Sparapani says cases like these are becoming more common.

"When I first started here it was like once a year now it's like once a month that we get something of this nature and it's really alarming," Sparapani explained.

MADACC is hoping they can reach an agreement with the owners this week and continue removing more cats.