111 cats rescued from trailer

Photo: Colton Davies

The Penticton SPCA is scrambling to deal with a massive intake of 111 cats surrendered to them from one owner in the now-closed Delta Mobile Park.

Chief prevention and enforcement officer Marcie Moriarty says the total of 111 includes 65 cats that were surrendered to the Penticton SPCA two weeks ago by the same owner.

Moriarty said the cats came from a hoarding situation where the population grew out of control of the owner, who surrendered them after several visits from the SPCA.

“This has placed an enormous strain on the resources of our Penticton branch and on other branches helping to provide veterinary care and shelter for them," Moriarty said. "In addition to individual medical care, the incoming cats and kittens require spay and neuter surgeries, which will cost the BC SPCA thousands of dollars.”

Castanet first reported on concerns of neighbours at the Delta Mobile home park in August, who were worried about the wellbeing of the cats. The owner of the felines, at the time, assured they were “very well cared for” and she was working to get them to new homes through the SPCA.

Large intakes of cats are also happening at other locations in B.C., including Salmon Arm, where 29 were taken into care earlier this week.

“This is always a busy time of year for cats and kittens in our shelters but this year we are in a situation where our branches right across B.C. are at maximum capacity for cats, with waiting lists,” Moriarty says. “We are in urgent need of donations to help offset the extra medical and sheltering costs, and we encourage anyone who is thinking about adopting a cat to please consider one of the wonderful cats and kittens in our care.”