An extraordinary animal rescue operation is underway in the Valencian town of Gandía, Spain, following the eviction of a man who had been living with an astonishing 96 cats in a single apartment. The situation has created an urgent challenge for local animal welfare organizations and municipal authorities, who are now scrambling to find suitable homes for this large number of displaced felines. After receiving multiple eviction notices, the property owner finally changed the locks on the apartment, necessitating the immediate removal of all cats inside.
The Discovery and Eviction Process
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The unusual situation came to light when real estate agents enforced an eviction order after sending numerous notices to the tenant that he needed to vacate the property. When the locks were finally changed on the apartment, authorities were confronted with the startling discovery of nearly one hundred cats living inside the confined space.
Liduvina Gil, councillor for the Health Department of Gandía, explained that once officials realized the animals were locked inside the apartment, the Town Hall immediately requested that the real estate company grant them access to safely remove the felines and transfer them to appropriate shelter facilities.
Despite the extraordinary number of animals sharing the small living space, Gil emphasized that the cats appeared to be properly cared for. She noted that the apartment had been equipped specifically to accommodate the cats, although she acknowledged that “a flat is not a place to keep 96 cats” regardless of the arrangements made.
The property reportedly required extensive cleaning following the removal of all the animals, highlighting the practical challenges of maintaining adequate hygiene when housing such a large number of pets in a residential setting.
Coordinated Rescue Operation
The removal of nearly one hundred cats from a single apartment presented significant logistical challenges for the rescue teams. Due to the sheer number of animals involved, authorities had to coordinate a two-day operation to safely transport all the cats to temporary shelter facilities.
On Friday, September 18, the first group of 50 cats was successfully removed from the apartment. The remaining 46 felines were transferred the following day, Saturday, completing the evacuation before an intensive cleaning of the premises commenced.
Throughout the process, animal welfare remained the primary concern for all parties involved. Each cat needed to be carefully handled, assessed for any immediate health concerns, and properly transported to minimize stress during the sudden relocation.
The Town Hall’s social services department has also become involved in the case of the evicted man, recognizing that there may be underlying issues that led to the unusual living arrangement. Officials noted that they are awaiting judicial intervention regarding the property’s lock change, suggesting that legal proceedings related to the eviction are still ongoing.
Urgent Appeal for Adoptive Homes
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The sudden influx of 96 cats has overwhelmed local animal shelters, which simply lack the capacity to accommodate such a large number of animals simultaneously. This situation has prompted Spama Safor to issue an urgent appeal through social media, asking community members to consider adopting these displaced cats.
Councillor Gil has emphasized that despite their unusual previous living situation, the cats are in good physical condition and have been well-cared for. This positive assessment may increase their chances of finding new homes, as potential adopters can be assured they aren’t taking on animals with significant health problems.
Local officials are also coordinating with various associations responsible for managing feral cat colonies in the area. However, Gil acknowledged that finding solutions remains “complicated” as these organizations are already tasked with day-to-day care of existing cat populations throughout the region.
The situation highlights the ongoing challenges faced by animal welfare organizations and municipal authorities when dealing with cases of animal hoarding or overcrowding. While the cats in this case were reportedly well-maintained, the sheer number presents a significant rehoming challenge that requires community support to resolve successfully.
For those interested in helping, Spama Safor has provided adoption information through their social media channels, hoping that the unusual circumstances of this case will encourage more people to open their homes to these cats in need of a fresh start.
