The hoarder’s environment is also usually dirty, lacking a clean place for the cats to sleep, eat, and use the toilet. Hoarders are often reluctant to receive visitors and act secretively, but the cats are usually easy to spot through the window.
A painfully thin cat may not have enough food to eat. A fainting or very thirsty cat may not have enough water or shade. An antisocial or aggressive cat may have been taken away from his mother prematurely. A cat that is shut in a small space with no ability to play or fulfill her need for movement. A cat that is deprived of companionship or forced to live in an environment with loud music or constant shouting. A cat that does not have a litterbox or access to the outdoors while the owner is away.
Dab the dirt with a damp cotton towel. A orangey-red stain is blood that indicates a flea infestation. A cat with a tick infestation has lots of grey “bubbles” stuck to his skin, which are the engorging ticks. The cat may have overgrown nails that dig into the pads and cause the pads to bleed, or weep pus from an infection.
Depending on how much they have fed, the maggots range in size from approximately a hair’s width and half a millimeter (1/5 inches) long, to chunky grubs.
Breeding is especially irresponsible if the kittens then mysteriously disappear, or populate the neighborhood with unwanted cats.
If you stroke a cat and his backbone bumps against your fingers, or if you can easily count each of his ribs, then the cat is underweight.
If you witness the owner in the act of physically abusing a cat, record the time and details and contact the police.
Commonly, the cats are described as seeming “cowed”, hunkering down with dilated eyes, glancing around for an escape route. Some cats become highly aggressive, and lash out at the slightest provocation, since they regard attack as the best form of defense.
These include the local law enforcement authority, animal welfare organization, animal control officer, SPCA, or the local animal shelter. Collect information such as dates and times that you think the abuse happened, and if possible, document the evidence with photos or videos.
For instance, an animal that is very thin may have a medical condition that is being managed, not starving from lack of food.
If the cat runs to greet his owner and rubs around his legs purring that is a good sign. If the cat flinches and cowers, it is possible he is being abused. Even this is not conclusive, especially if you witness the cat struggling due to being fed medication or given a bath.
Try to keep your tone conversational. If the owner says the cat is on medical treatment, you can try asking which vet the cat is seeing. If you are not satisfied by the answer, do not confront the owner, but consider putting the problem in the hands of the authorities.
This type of abuse typically involves failing to meet all the animals’ basic needs, such as adequate food, clean water, a clean place to rest, and shelter from the elements. Unintentional abuse is common when people hoard more animals than they can care for, or when they neglect their cats by not providing adequate food while they are on holiday.
Besides physical injury, intentional abuse includes not taking a sick cat to the vet or not treating a flea infected cat.
