Dozens of cats rescued

BUTTE (AP) — Authorities in hazardous materials suits worked Thursday to catch about 90 cats found living in squalor in a Butte apartment.

The owner of the cats is being sought on suspicion of felony animal abuse.

Animal control director Ed Randall says the county received a call from neighbors reporting the poor conditions and foul odor at the apartment. Neighbors said they hadn’t seen the resident in about a month.

Randall says officials entered the house and found 80 to 100 cats. Most had been caught by Thursday afternoon and some were so ill they had to be euthanized. 

Traps were set for about 15 that could not be immediately caught.

The cats were taken to the animal shelter or veterinary clinics.