Authorities discovered at least 28 dead cats and rescued around 100 more from a residence in Bohemia, New York, after a neighbor reported a strong, unpleasant odor coming from the house. Previously valued at about $725,000, the property has now been deemed uninhabitable.
The Bohemia Fire Station responded to the report and found numerous cats wandering in appalling conditions. Upon further investigation, they uncovered a kitten’s body among approximately 20 deceased cats, and multiple old pet boxes stuffed in the freezer.
Rescuers noted the house was in such a state that one of them became ill and required urgent medical attention. “The person there started vomiting and had to go to the hospital,” shared John Debucker, director of Long Island Cat and Kitten Solutions, highlighting the poor health of the rescued cats.
Debucker described the chaos within the home, stating, “There were at least 100 chewy boxes everywhere—scattered throughout the rooms.” Roy Gross, chief of the Suffolk County SPCA, reported that more than 50 surviving cats were taken to a veterinary clinic right away. Sadly, three had to be euthanized due to their health conditions. “We discovered 28 deceased cats. Over 50 are still alive and are now under the care of volunteer veterinarians, but they face a long recovery process,” he explained.
One of the rescuers mentioned needing to take five breaks during the two-and-a-half hours spent in the house, as they were equipped with protective suits and respirators, yet the stench was overwhelming.
While working, rescuers narrowly caught a kitten trying to escape through a window, and several ended up with scratches in the process. Neighbors indicated that the homeowner, identified as 75-year-old Stephen Grantz, had resorted to feeding a stray cat in his backyard, which he later brought inside. Following the death of his wife several years prior, Grantz struggled with loneliness and was unable to care for the large number of cats.
The cats are currently housed at a mobile clinic operated by an animal rescue organization in partnership with the Islip Animal Shelter. The SPCA is seeking $10,000 in donations to assist with the medical treatment of the sick cats.
