A family member is a cat hoarder.

Question

She is being evicted from my sister’s 500 square foot apt for various reasons but also brought in 8 cats. My sister understands crowded conditions do not equal abuse, as she has an animal rescue and boarding background, but she says conditions are poor. They are moving out into an even smaller studio apt and planning on bringing now 11 cats. Her son, my sister’s husband, plans to build a large catio for the cats but this was my sister’s idea. The hoarder thinks she is doing nothing wrong, and it is likely she will just bring in more cats. Maybe other people have hoarders in their family would be interested in your answer as well.

Hawaii, USA

Answer

Many mental health experts have concluded that hoarding is a psychological disorder and that people with this disorder need professional help. Attempting to procure mental health services should be strongly considered. Depending on the circumstances, adult and child protective services may get involved too. People who suspect that animals are being neglected or abused can also contact the police, animal control, and local humane organizations.

In the meantime, friends and families of people who keep more animals than they can humanely care should consider offering to help with animal care, including such things as purchasing food and feeding the animals, walking dogs, cleaning litter boxes, taking animals to veterinarians, getting the animals spayed and neutered, and helping to place animals in new homes (a difficult one if the person hoarding the animals does not recognize that the animals are not getting the care they need).

Every state has enacted a cruelty to animals law. Hawaii’s cruelty to animals law states that it is unlawful to deprive animals of necessary sustenance or to cause that deprivation. The law also prohibits many other harmful acts, such as beating, starving, poisoning, and overloading. Law enforcement may take action if animals are kept in grossly unsanitary or overcrowded conditions or deprived of necessary food, water, shelter, or veterinary attention. Some state laws require or allow judges to order the forfeiture of animals if a person is convicted of cruelty (and sometimes before). Some states also have laws prohibiting people who are convicted of cruelty to animals from possessing animals for a period of time. Some laws also require the convicted person to undergo psychological evaluation and treatment.

There are also laws in many municipalities that limit the number of animals (typically dogs and cats) a person may keep. These laws can be utilized in hoarding situations in addition to cruelty laws. Local agencies that are responsible for enforcement of limit laws can be contacted.

Your question reminds me of one of the first cases I was involved with when I became an attorney. Sadly, since then I have encountered many more. In this first case, a man was keeping about 40 dogs in his small home. Neighbors complained to authorities about the odor emanating from the house. Investigators found some of the dogs dead and others suffering from various stages of malnutrition and other ailments. The entire house was filled with feces. The dog’s “parent” seemed unaware that there was any problem. Several different agencies became involved (ASPCA, Health Department, and other municipal agencies). The dogs were seized and the dog’s “parent” was charged with cruelty to animals. Eventually the animals were ordered forfeited by the court. The house was condemned.

I hope this all works out well for your family member and her cats