Animal shelter personnel retrieved 44 cats from a Sumner apartment on Wednesday, following the death of the cats’ owner earlier in the week. Sumner police alerted animal shelter staff after discovering the large number of cats in the residence.
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The owner’s family cooperated in the removal process, helping to contain the cats. All 44 felines were transported to a shelter in Puyallup, where they underwent examinations, vaccinations, and were provided emergency housing. Officials reported that the cats ranged in age from less than one month to three years, and were generally in good health and friendly upon arrival at the shelter.
Before adoption, the cats will need to be spayed or neutered. Authorities clarified that the case is not being treated as one of animal cruelty or neglect, as the owner has passed away and the family consented to the shelter’s help during this difficult time. The incident underscores how rapidly cat populations can increase when animals are not spayed or neutered; the household originally started with two unaltered cats and grew to 44 in less than three years, posing a significant challenge for the small community shelter.