Tacoma, Wash. - More than 50 cats were discovered aboard an abandoned sailboat in Puget Sound following a welfare check by Tacoma police last week. The unusual incident began when two joggers spotted a cat jumping into the cold waters and alerted authorities.
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Ashton Effertz and Jesse McConaha, the joggers, helped rescue the frightened cat from the water. McConaha, after reacting to the situation, jumped in to retrieve the animal. "Are we going to do something about it?" he said before entering the frigid water. Despite being scratched during the rescue, both men made it back to shore safely, and the cat was taken to an animal hospital for treatment.
Animal control officers initially removed about 30 cats from the sailboat but continued their search upon hearing more cats hidden below deck. By noon on Tuesday, they had discovered an additional 21 cats, bringing the total to over 50. Authorities noted that such a large number of cats aboard a vessel is highly unusual, with one official stating, "No ... 30-40 cats on a boat? That’s pretty unheard of."
The situation continues to develop as animal control works to ensure the welfare of the rescued cats.