About 40 cats found hoarded in Hendry County storage unit, some ‘dead for years’

Published: Updated:
Kittens rescued from Hendry County storage unit. (Gulf Coast Humane Society)

About 40 cats and kittens were rescued after they were found inside a Hendry County storage unit, according to the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office.

Inside a small dark trailer with bug-infested walls, Andre Duran said he is doing everything he can to keep the cats he has left. Right now, Animal Control is investigating him and his mother after their cats were rescued from the storage business in Labelle.

The cats were neglected and in dirty conditions. The owners said the cats were only there temporarily as they fumigated their home, according to an incident report.

In addition to the 40 found alive, there were also dead cats found in various stages of decomposition. Those cats died of natural causes. Neighbors like Erika Garcia said the animals are in better hands.

”To be honest, it was good that they took them,” Garcia said. “They should have took all back so that they can have a better place to live.”

HCSO says it appears the owners just couldn’t part with the cats after they’d passed. Some of the boxes contained cats that had died and been buried then dug up again as the family moved from home to home.

”They were intended to be buried,” Andre Duran said, “but they’ve been dead for years.”

The owners gave up 22 of the cats up to animal control. They were taken in by the Gulf Coast Humane Society where they will be cared for until they can be adopted.

GCHS says the unexpected influx of kittens will have a cost, but they will all now be in a caring and comfortable environment.

If you’d like to help the newly rescued felines, you can make a donation to GCHS which will help them keep the kittens to rehab and prepare to find their new “furever” home in the near future.

GCHS says they appreciate all and any help!

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