Authorities discovered two dozen dead cats in a freezer, along with the remains of a newborn kitten in an old cat food box, at a home in Bohemia. The overwhelming stench was so severe that one animal rescuer required emergency care after entering the residence.
“There are kittens and chewy boxes everywhere,” Tammy Gutt, a volunteer at Cat and Kitten Solutions on Long Island, stated, highlighting the numerous pet food boxes found throughout the house. “It was chaotic—there must have been around a hundred boxes scattered all over, but very few bodies.”
Firefighters responded to the home, valued at around $725,000, after a neighbor reported a smell akin to ammonia drifting from the property. “Upon our arrival, we found over 50 live cats along with 28 deceased ones,” reported Roy Gross, chief of the Suffolk County SPCA. “These cats are currently under the care of volunteer veterinarians, but they are mostly in poor health. Unfortunately, three had to be euthanized.”
Witnesses indicated that the cat population had been a long-standing issue, with the homeowners regularly feeding numerous strays. “The smell was bad, really bad. I’ve fed cats in my backyard for years, but this was something else,” a neighbor commented. “It made my stomach turn.”
The home is owned by Stephen Grantz, who did not provide any comments when approached.
The SPCA noted that costs for the care of the surviving cats are escalating, amounting to around $10,000, and they are seeking help from the community for contributions or veterinary volunteerism.
John Debucker, director of Long Island Cats and Kit Solutions, described the situation inside as severe, but not the worst he had encountered. “Every room was filled with chewy boxes, and there was a mother cat that gave birth in one of them,” he explained. “One responder got so ill from the odor that they had to go to the hospital. Once the investigation wraps up, we hope that people can adopt these cats.”
