Cats turn to cannibalism as neighbors seek help

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Neighbors said more than a dozen abandoned cats in a neighborhood off the 1200 block of Allen Street are so neglected they have resorted to cannibalism.

Neighboring homeowners said there was a problem with cats years ago, but that the situation escalated when the woman who cared for the cats moved away when her house was condemned.

The 16 cats she left behind suffer from broken legs, eye infections and maggot-filled wounds. Two of the cats are pregnant and there is at least one litter.

“They’re eating each other! They have diseases. There’s fleas everywhere. It’s just a horrible situation,” one neighbor, Lisa, said.

Neighbors said they have called several local agencies including the Humane Society, animal control and even the health department. But Lisa said they have not had any success getting the cats help.

“Everyone is passing me over to the next person. There has to be someone we can reach out to to get some help with this situation,” she said.

Another neighbor, Frank Amma, said he was told the agencies do not have the resources to address the feline problem.

“They said they don’t pick up animals anymore and I said ‘Why not?’ and they said ‘Because they cut our budget. We don’t have the manpower,'” he said.

Neighbors said they fear the havoc the cats will cause.

“It’s aggravating. I mean it’s sickening and there’s a lot of them,” Amma said. “They can’t stay here. They’re going to tear that house down, so where are the cats going to go? They’re going to stay right here and cause a bigger problem.”

Lee County Animal Control is looking into the problem.