Jackson official on cat deaths: ’100% a hoarding case’

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — The situation that led to 38 dead cats in Jackson County this week was "100% a hoarding case," says the county's animal control director.

Lydia Sattler tells 6 News by text that the Tuesday led to a home in the city. Officials executed a search warrant on that home Thursday, which led them to two more properties in the city of Jackson. Officials obtained search warrants for those locations Thursday as well.

In all, Jackson County Animal Control and Shelter officials were able to recover an additional 8 dead cats, as well as 6 living cats and 2 living dogs during the search warrant executions.

Sattler says the case has been handed to the Jackson County Prosecutor for consideration of criminal charges against three people.

She tells 6 News the seized animals were alive but "so flea infested, many had significant hair loss and scabbing from scratching."

One of the cats was pregnant Sattler tells 6 News. She says the surviving animals are undergoing medical care and will soon be available for adoption.

"And seeing their condition, I'm glad we found them when we did," she says.