At least 100 cats were rescued from a Long Island home where animal welfare workers say the animals were living in deplorable conditions, many of them sick, malnourished and flea-infested.
The Suffolk County SPCA said its team, along with other rescuers, removed at least 100 cats from the West Islip home, some found in cages and others roaming loose. The home has since been condemned, and the woman who lives there, 66-year-old Grace Etzelsberger, has been arrested on animal neglect charges.
“This is horrible,” a rescuer can be heard saying in video captured during the operation.
“It was absolutely disgusting,” said Frank Floridia, one of the rescuers who entered the home. “It was hard to breathe. The cats were living in their own feces.”
Investigators said the cats suffered from a range of health issues including open sores, flea infestations and malnourishment.
“They were hungry. Seeking human attention. Very sad,” said Floridia, of Strong Island Animal Rescue.
Authorities believe Etzelsberger was running a cat breeding operation from her home. Her website indicated she was selling Maine Coon cats — a popular and expensive breed — for up to $4,000 each.
“We knew they were breeders, but we didn’t know to the extent at which it was,” said a neighbor who added that he never noticed signs of trouble before the SPCA’s raid on Monday. “It was a little surprising.”
Footage from inside the home showed disturbing images of the cats’ conditions.
“Just right around their necks — all sores,” said Meredith Festa, one of the rescuers who has since helped care for the cats.
Fest has taken in several of the cats, as she and others are working to nurse the animals back to health so they can eventually be adopted.
“They’re so sweet and they deserve better than this,” Festa said. “And we’re gonna give it to them.”
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC New York. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC New York journalist edited the article for publication.
