Story #2, from the Post-Gazette in Pittsburgh, PA:

http://www.post-gazette.com/breaking/20040715catsp8.asp

75 or more cats kept in N. Huntingdon house

Thursday, July 15, 2004

Associated Press

Humane officials wearing masks and hazmat suits were removing dozens of cats from a woman’s home in Westmoreland County, which authorities said will have to be demolished.

“We’ve been here since 10 a.m. and we got about 50 out — 30 alive and 20 dead. There’s probably 30, 40 more still inside,” humane officer Katie Waters said yesterday.

“There’s not an inch of the house that doesn’t have 4 to 5 inches of cat feces,” humane officer Kathy Hecker said.

The home belongs to Jean Urquhart, 71, of North Huntingdon. One of her daughters, Lynne Rokavec, said her mother was embarrassed and ashamed but didn’t understand what the matter was.

Rokavec said her mother has been living with her for the past several months and had told her she only had five cats.

“This is animal hoarding. It’s a behavioral disorder,” Hecker said.

Rokavec said the family would get counseling for her mother.